JoAnn Elizabeth Polich Mills

JoAnn Elizabeth Polich Mills was born December 29, 1943, to her parents Joey Polich and Ethel Marie Gecho. JoAnn passed on July 19th, 2023, from natural causes.

JoAnn loved the spelling of her first name. In later years, she was bothered by spell check when it would change her name. She was a lover of all types of animals and took care of more feral cats that people abandoned than one could count. She loved camping with Alvin and the boys, and later her grandkids. Her main hobby was reading books, which she did while the guys were fishing, which meant she did a lot of reading over the years.

At the age of 15, she was the tray girl at the Vicars Nursing Home. Then, she worked at the Arena Cafe as the ticket salesperson behind the counter at the Greyhound Bus desk.

JoAnn was first runner up for the Queen of the Red Lodge Rodeo in 1960, that summer she was working at a Girl Scout Camp as a cook in the Red Lodge Area. Her nickname at camp was Pepper. Her senior year she was May Queen, graduating from Roundup High School in 1961.

She started working for Able, Inc. at about age 20 or 21, under the tutelage of Lilian Kirkpatrick. She worked as a bookkeeper and later became a partner.

She and her husband Alvin Mills bought the Arcade in the early 1980's from George and RuthMary Thomas. They owned the bar for 38 years. She was very proud that she was able to celebrate the 100th birthday of the bar. She was involved in many charity functions over the years, as well as being a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

JoAnn loved having Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners at her house. Usually, there would be at least 30 people enjoying food and family. She loved being with family and friends, and enjoyed traveling to Idaho to see her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

She never knew a stranger and trusted everybody. Before JoAnn passed, she attended a first cousin's reunion, in Chelan, Washington, with her cousin Ruthmary Campbell, and her sister Georgia Juhl. She had a wonderful time, and we are thankful they all got to see each other one last time.

JoAnn was predeceased by her parents, her husband Alvin and her brother-in laws Artie Mills and Ken Byrd. She is survived by son Michael (Kerry) and Jay (Tanya), grandchildren Megan and Melanie Mills, Hayden and Andrew (Amelia) Mills, sister Georgia (Will) Juhl, Sisters-in-laws Cheryl Byrd and Carol Ann Mills, and nephews Mitch (Angie) and Patrick (Dana) Byrd, Craig, Brad and niece Brenda Mills and many cousins.

A grave side service is planned for September 2nd, 2023 @ 11:30am at the New Miners Cemetery at Klien. Followed by a luncheon at the Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Roundup Humane Society. She loved her animals.