Obituary for Jennifer Anne Collins at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home (2024)

In the afternoon hours of June 16, 2024, Jennifer Anne Collins, age 61, passed away in New Braunfels, TX. A great soul, she lived and loved large.

Born on August 8, 1962, Jennifer grew up in Plentywood, MT, the eldest of Kenneth Don Collins and Kay Marie Lund’s three children. Jennifer’s adolescent energies at Plentywood Schools were spent with a myriad of extracurricular activities, including 4-H, Rainbow Girls, piano and vocal lessons, majorettes, and many pursuits revolving around her love of theater, speech and drama, music, and her friends and family. Jennifer's grace, beauty, poise, and intelligence shined during her time with the Montana Junior Miss Pageants, including when she was crowned Sheridan County’s 1980 Junior Miss and runner up at Montana’s Junior Miss. She later was crowned Miss N.E. Montana in 1982 and 4th alternate to Miss Montana.

After her 1980 PHS graduation, Jennifer’s academic drive and full-ride scholarship, received from the Junior Miss Programs, led her to the University of South Alabama, where she graduated in 1984 with a double major in English and Communication Arts. During her university years, she excelled in her classes, worked as an assistant at America's Jr. Miss Headquarters, spent a semester studying Arthurian Legend at the University of London-Chelsea during the summer of 1983, and was an active member of the Phi Mu Sorority, creating lifelong connections.

After securing her bachelor’s degrees in Alabama, she returned home to Sheridan County, where she began student teaching, sparking her passion for education. In 1986-1987, she attended Rocky Mountain College and earned her secondary education certification. Jennifer's teaching career began in Powell, Wyoming, on January 8, 1988. After finishing the semester, she spent 1988-1991 teaching in Joliet, Montana. In 1991-1992, Jennifer taught part-time at Northwest Community College in Powell. She taught a quarter at West High in Billings before heading east to enroll in graduate school at the University of West Chester in Pennsylvania, where she earned her Master of Arts degree in English. Jennifer then thrived working at Colstrip High School from 1993-1997, where her talent for coaching speech and drama and directing plays ignited.

In 1997 Jennifer secured a full-time position at Red Lodge High School, where she enjoyed a 17-year career filled with successes and acknowledgments, including multiple “District Student Council Advisor of the Year” awards, and leading a highly successful Speech and Drama team for over 12 years. As head coach, she led her teams to remarkable success, securing two divisional championships in Drama, two 2nd place, and three 3rd place finishes. In Speech, her teams earned three divisional 2nd place and six 3rd place finishes. Her team was State runner-up in 2005-2006 for Speech. She also coached numerous State Finalists in both Speech and Drama. Notably, they were State runners-up in Drama in 2006-2007 and State champions in 2007-2008, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and dedication.

Jennifer was a force to be reckoned with inside the classroom as well. She primarily taught 11th and 12th grade English, including AP Language and Literature, where she inspired her students to reach their full potential. With high expectations and a compassionate heart, she was always a trusted confidant to those in need. She formed many lasting relationships with her former students and fellow teachers, reflecting the sincere love she had for each one.

Throughout her tenure at RLHS, Jennifer was passionate about continuing her education, earning numerous certificates along the way. Her lifelong love of learning led her to complete a second accelerated Master's degree in School Administration, graduating with honors in early 2009. Remarkably, she achieved this while simultaneously coaching, teaching, and raising her two girls—a true testament to her grit and determination. Jennifer's exceptional teaching career concluded in 2014 when she retired.

On January 28, 1989, Jennifer's thirty-year relationship with Rusty DeVries began. By June 30, 2000, the couple decided they knew each other well enough to make the arrangement legal and got married. While not blessed with biological children of their own, their lives were happily changed when they became guardians and parents to two nieces (daughters in their hearts), Brooke Roseland and Brianna Lemire. Rusty and Jen’s lives were further blessed when nephew Charles Harm DeVries, whom they consider to be their son, and his wife Dani Roller, became parents to Austin Charles and Keegan Russell. Vacations, summer weekends, countless conversations, and much laughter centered around the antics of the two red-headed “grandsons.”

Jennifer spent much of her time between Montana and Texas, joyfully visiting friends and family, always eager for the next adventure. She filled her days with the things that brought her the most joy: traveling the world, indulging in copious amounts of iced tea, immersing herself in literature, enjoying live arts, and cherishing every moment with her beloved miniature Bernedoodle, Harry, with whom she shared a special bond. She had a large passion for life and filled each day to the brim. Jennifer especially thrived around holidays imparting special memories for all her loved ones. She had a knack for gifting the most thoughtful treasure for just the right occasion. Jen had a never ebbing love for those she held close to her heart.

Jennifer is survived by her “daughters,” Brooke Roseland, Brianna Lemire, and the Harm DeVries family; sister Katherine Collins, brother and sister-in-law K. David & Trish Collins; niece and nephew Isabelle & Trey Collins; maternal aunts Doris Freeman & Deloris Lund; step relatives; and beloved first and second cousins.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Rusty DeVries; mother Kay M. Lund; father Kenneth D. Collins; paternal aunt and uncles Shirley Collins Harris Holje, Chet Holje & George Harris; and maternal aunts and uncles Helen & Arch Callaway, Robert & Jeanne Lund, David Freeman, and Stan Lund

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carnegie Library of Red Lodge, Red Lodge Community Church, Special Olympics of MT, or the Animal Medical Center of New Braunfels. For these organizations’ mailing addresses, please consult https://www.doeppenschmidtfuneralhome.com.

Services will be at the Red Lodge Community Church, Red Lodge, Montana, on Saturday, September 7, at 2 P.M, followed by a celebration of life at the Elks Club in Red Lodge.