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Lynn Tilton Jones Obituary

Brought to you by Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel

Lynn Tilton Jones

BILLINGS, MT

September 20, 1921 - August 19, 2019

Lynn Tilton Jones Obituary

Lynn T. Jones, 97, of Billings, Montana, died August 19, 2019, having lived a rich and full life. He was born on September 20, 1921, on the family homestead near Bloomfield, Montana.

Lynn moved with his family to Terry, Montana, at the age of four. He was the oldest of six children. He resided in Terry, Montana, until his graduation from Terry High School in 1939.

He enrolled in Billings Polytechnic Institute (now Rocky Mountain College) in Billings. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Lynn enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He served as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 (The Flying Fortress) in the European Theater of Operations in WWII. While on a bombing mission over Hamburg, Germany in June of 1943 his plane was shot down. Lynn became a prisoner of war for a period of 22 months.

After his discharge from the military, he attended Court Reporting School in San Francisco, California.

Beginning in December of 1946, he served as a Court Reporter for District and Federal Courts in Forsyth and Billings, retiring on September 1st, 1994.

Lynn was the first machine (Stenotype) court reporter in the State of Montana.

Lynn was married to Eldora Clellen on August 5th, 1945 (the day the atomic bomb was dropped). To this marriage three sons were born: Lyle Edward, Terry Lynn, and Gerald Douglas. Eldora passed away in March of 1993, after 48 years of marriage, family, and memories. He was remarried to Ruth Doyle on September 4th, 1994. Ruth passed in 2017.

Lynn was pre-deceased by brother Lyle (who died of wounds received on Iwo Jima in WWII); sisters, Lillian Langamo, Lorraine Siegle, Louise Schock, and Lucille Covert. Lynn and Eldora’s sons, Gerald and Terry preceded their father in passing. And Tim Doyle, a step son, as well.

He is survived by his son Lyle (Valda) Jones, of Billings; Margaret Jones of Laurel; six grandchildren, Lennell (Tim) Roemer, Lisa Jones, Lori (Leon) Antikainen, Chris Jones, Jeraco (Melinda)Jones, and Gabriel (Deb) Jones: five Great Grandchildren: Jenna Johnston, Conor Roemer, Mckenzie Roemer, Sawyer Jones and Tanner Ecker. And stepson, Mark Doyle.

He was a Charter member of the Billings Bible Church, a life time member of the American Legion and the Ex-Prisoners of War.

Lynn lived life in such a way that death, whenever it came, was not to be feared, but accepted as a brief interim before a glorious tomorrow. His life’s philosophy was “This is the greatest day of my life – until tomorrow”.

His military experience taught him the hellishness of war. And horrors of his POW experience made him develop a deep faith in the Lord. He became a better American because he knew first-hand the cost of freedom.

While a POW he kept his mind active by memorizing Scripture verses and Christian hymns. He memorized Rudyard Kipling’s “If” and the 23rd Psalm.

Lynn lived a victorious life even in a Nazi prison camp. Barbed wire, guns with fixed bayonets, hunger, forced marches, and the POW experience helped shape his life and his conduct. He loved his God, his family and his country,

May he rest in peace, awaiting the glorious resurrection at the return of Jesus, as recorded in God’s Word.

Memorials may be made to Clydehurst Christian Ranch, the Alzheimer’s Association, or charity of your choice.


To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Lynn Tilton Jones hosted by Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel.

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Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Lynn Tilton Jones.