Janet Mary Smigaj died peacefully in her sleep on March 17, 2026. Janet was born in St. Paul, MN to George and Frances Frost. She attended St. Casmir Grade School, Cleveland Junior High and Johnson High School, all in St. Paul, MN. After high school graduation, she took a job with the St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Their purchase of Western Life in Helena, MT brought her out to Montana in 1959. She met Franklin David Smigaj at the Nite Owl Night Club and they married in the St. Helena Cathedral on June 24, 1961. Due to Frank's job with the telephone company, they lived in many small towns throughout eastern Montana before settling in Butte.

Janet did not want to work but desired to put her love and energy into being an involved Mom to Steven, Laura and Susan. She was active in PTA, being a Girl Scout leader and a CCD instructor. She was an active member of TOPS for over 50 years and still attended weekly meetings until her passing. Janet loved to exercise and walk and had the same weekly walking partner, Vonnie Nuthak, for several decades. Spare time was taken up with reading, canning, gardening, pasty making, sewing, embroidery and quilting – she was admired for her embroidered baby quilts, a true prize for any baby who received one! Family gatherings were a favorite of hers and with each one she would gleefully have a prepared game for us all to partake in and enjoy. Janet loved spending time camping and 4-wheeling in the mountains surrounding Marysville.

Years ago, she started donating a homemade huckleberry pie for the Pie Auction for the Marysville Pioneers annual fundraising picnic. The first year she was shocked that someone would pay $65 for her pie. Over the years "Jan's Huckleberry Pie" became a hot commodity at the picnic with lots of bidding going on. Her last pie she donated, in 2024, went for $2,000! Janet was profiled in HelenaAir.com (Helena's Independent Record) in August 2022 due to her renown huckleberry pie!

A devout and lifelong Catholic, the family was honored to have Father Haffey from their parish, St. Anne's, conduct a private family memorial at Janet and Frank's home shortly after her passing and following her cremation.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents George and Frances Frost, brother David Frost, sister Jacqueline Thompson and brother-in-law Bruce Thompson.

Janet is survived by her husband of almost 65 years, Franklin Smigaj; sisters Fran Kill (Paul) and Susan Frost. Janet's legacy lives on through her children, Steven Smigaj (Patricia) of Missoula, MT , Laura Wagner (Christopher) of Lake Forest Park, WA and Susan Nelson (Robert) of Nine Mile Falls, WA; her grandchildren Andrew and Ashley Smigaj, Jacob, Matthew, Mark and Sarah Nelson, and Beckett and Grace Wagner; and her great-grandchildren Charlotte and Micah Nelson, Cohen Nelson, and Lucy Smigaj, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for Janet will be held June 20 at the Finlen Hotel in Butte.

Memorial donations can be made in her name to Marysville Pioneer Club, 242 Grand, Marysville, MT 59601.