Jan Charlo

Jan Charlo, born May 14th 1949 and passed peacefully in her sleep the morning of March 7th, 2026.. Born to Ed and Joan Christopherson, Jan grew up in Missoula with her siblings, Ann, Jean and Ian.

Jan met Vic in the early 1970’s. Jan is not tribal and came from a completely different background from Vic and yet they fell in love and had four children. For the sake of her children she humbly spent time and learned from family and friends of the Charlo family. She spent time with Vic’s family, learning traditional sewing, beading, plant identification and harvesting.

Jan and Vic loved Agnes Vanderburg’s culture camp, and would bring their kids to live every summer in a tipi. Jan learned how to tan hides, one of her accomplishments at the camp was to tan an elk hide to make Vic regalia. Everything Jan learned, she would teach her children. She learned how to make regalia from Agnes Vanderburg so that the kids could dance at powwows..
Jan and Vic had a dream of building a log house in the woods. The next vision was to home school the four kids. Jan and Vic were decolonizing before it was a named concept. On a family hike, the name “Shiny Mountain School” became the name of the next adventure.

Jan was required by the state of Montana to obtain a teaching degree to home school her four children. Jan attended University of Montana and obtained a four year teaching degree and graduated cum laude. She managed to complete her degree with all four children in tow, without ever using a traditional daycare. The kids were cared for by several of Jan’s friends while she was working on her degree. Jan was an incredible teacher for her children, and then went on to be a substitute teacher in the local school districts. She particularly enjoyed substituting for special ed classes, and was often requested by teachers to fill in for them.

Jan also helped a few parents home school their kids. Shiny Mountain School was always in business at Jan’s house for kids and adults. She taught how to make star quilts. She made regalia for her friends and family. One year at Arlee Powwow, 20 star shawls were seen on the dance floor. Jan was an amazing artist, she sketched, painted and was taught how to sew star quilts from her friend Honey Sorrel. Jan then went on to start her star quilt business, Montana Stars. Fabric colors would sing to Jan, she would work on several quilts at a time. Multi tasking, sewing, parenting and connecting deeply with her friends was Jan’s life. Jan also taught star quilt making at the Kicking Horse Job Corps for many years, and made good friends with some of her students. Some would still come to visit her from out of state years after she had finished teaching. Some she adopted as her own.

Jan gave and was a sanctuary to family and friends. If you needed a place to stay, mom always had a bed, if you needed a meal, Jan would stop everything and cook for you. Jan was very wise about what sugar and processed foods did to bodies. She was known as a “health nut.” She was teased about her healthy foods, but many people came to Jan for prenatal health and homeopathic remedies. Jan was friends with the late Clarence Woodcock and many others that she learned plant medicines from through the years.

Jan is known for her fierce loyalty to her friends and family. Jan would drop everything if they needed something. Jan had family and children that aren’t biological, Jan loved deeply, and was loved by many that considered her mom, auntie, sister and grandparent. Jan was generous with everything she had, whether it be a quilt or love, she gave freely and unconditionally.

Jan’s life was enhanced by her grandchildren, Jasper and Hailee were the first grandchildren, and being a grandma to twins could not have made her happier. Grandma Jan welcomed five more grandchildren. Weekends at Grandma Jan’s house was an adventure for the seven grandchildren that were able to roast marshmallows, hot dogs and go for walks. Grandma Jan would illegally cram the kids into a ford taurus and drive them to the fish hatchery in Arlee or a trip to Missoula.

Jan is survived by former husband and friend Victor Charlo, her children, Mary, Claire, April and Martin. Grandchildren, Jasper, Hailee, Jayden, Keiton, Remi, Lovei (Samantha) and Chief. Jan’s siblings, Ian and Jean. Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Joan Christopherson and sister Ann Christopherson.

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