Tina Denise Jackson

Tina Denise Jackson, 59, of Cut Bank, Montana, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls.

Tina was born in Wakeeney, Kansas on September 4,1966, to LaMoyne “Jake” Jackson and Wanda (Shearer) Jackson of Hill City, Kansas. Tina attended K-12 in Hill City and graduated as a Ringneck with the Class of 1985. Tina then continued her education at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She graduated in 1989 at the top of her class with a BA in Elementary Education.

In 1990, Tina started her teaching career in Palco, Kansas as a 1st grade teacher. She continued to teach children in Kansas for the next 15 years. In August of 2016, Tina made the move she had always dreamed of to Cut Bank, Montana to teach Kindergarten at HC Davis Elementary School. She remained teaching there until her recent passing.

Tina knew from a young age that children and teaching were her passions, along with nature, the mountains, and traveling. She was always the town babysitter growing up, and she loved mothering and teaching new things to her 3 younger sisters, even when they really didn’t want the lessons. In the summers of 1983 and 1984, Tina went to Tomahawk Ranch Girl Scout Camp in the mountains of Colorado to be a camp cook and host. She spent both summers working with Girl Scouts and enjoying all the mountains had to offer. It was her “happy place” and she knew from that moment that the mountains would someday be her permanent home. Her love for nature took her on many adventures, with the most notable for her being a trip to the Swiss Alps in Switzerland full of hiking and camping. It was a once in a lifetime trip for her and she loved sharing her experience with anyone who wanted to hear about it.

Tina’s hobbies included hiking, snow shoeing, white water rafting, camping, art, teaching, watching scary movies, sharing her love for Star Trek and Sci-Fi with her older brother, collecting Grinch and Dr. Seuss things, and learning everything she could about nature and all the creatures in it. She loved it so much that she started taking classes to work towards a second career as a Forest Ranger. Her favorite animals to learn about were bears and wolves. She was fascinated by both of them and donated her time and efforts to helping protect them. Tina was a gifted artist, and she loved sharing her creativity with her students and family. She spent hours drawing her own bulletin boards and making many learning activities for her students. Her students were the heart of everything Tina did and she loved them all as her “kids.” There was nothing she wouldn’t do to help them succeed. Tina also enjoyed spending as much time as she could with her 4 nephews, niece, and 2 great-nieces. She traveled many miles to attend all their special events from graduations to birthdays to weddings. She treated them as her own.

According to Tina’s peers and co-workers, she was a positive force that was extremely dedicated, organized, structured, had a great sense of humor, and was so loved by her students and friends. She made a difference in and out of the classroom every day.

Tina’s passing has left a huge void in all of her family and friend’s lives. She was our North Star and mentor, our advice giver and voice of reason. All of the people that have stopped to share stories with us about our sister have touched us in ways we can’t explain and we will never tire of hearing how she touched so many people’s lives in a little place so far away from her Kansas roots. She was the best sister, friend, daughter, aunt, and teacher.

Tina is survived by her parents, LaMoyne “Jake” and Wanda Jackson of Hill City, KS; brother, Duce Jackson of Bogue, KS; three sisters, Kandi Jo Jackson of Hays, KS, Kristi Jackson of Denver, CO, and Darcy Schmitt (Eric) of Hays, KS; niece, Jasmine Gnad (Tyler) of Kansas City, MO; four nephews, Craig Jackson of New Braunfels, TX, Corey Jackson of Hoisington, KS, Dylan Schmitt and Cole Schmitt, both of Hays, KS; and two great-nieces, Kendall and Ivy.

Cremation has taken place at O’Connor Funeral Home and her ashes will be released in the mountains she loves.