Thief River Falls - Quentin Jones, 90, died Saturday, December 13, 1997 at the Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls
Funeral services will be held today, Wednesay, December 17 at the United Methodist Church with Reverend Bill Kerr officiating. Ida Nordvall will be the organist with Jane Anderson providing special vocal music. Violinist Jim Solsten will play his own special arrangements of "Flow Gently Sweet Afton" and "Amazing Grace." The family considers all of Quentin's former students as honorary casketbearers. Casketbearers will be Orville Ellingson, Ted Hellie, Robert Nygaard, Jim Sims, Ed Sisler and Ralph Skay.
Visitation was Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Green Funeral Home and at the church Wednesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. The family suggests memorials to the Quentin and Libby Jones Scholarship Fund in the Thief River Falls Foundation.
Norris Quentin Jones was born on January 22, 1907 in Revillo, SD, the son of Harry E. and Maud A. (Dunbrack) Jones. He graduated from Revillo High School in 1925, Carleton College in 1929, and later from the University of North Dakota with a masters degree in education. Following his formal education, Quentin's love for teaching led him to teaching positions in Malta, MT for two years, Park Rapids from 1932 to 1942 and in Thief River Falls from 1942 until he retired in 1972. Quentin was a physical education teacher, coached swimming, cross country and was a physical education curriculum writer for elementary education. He spent his summers as a lifeguard and driving instructor in Thief River Falls.
He was active in Boy Scouts, receiving the coveted Silver Beaver Award. He also worked with the Minnesota Education Association, American Red Cross, Golden K Kiwanis Club where he served as president, district officer and treasurer. He loved gardening and was a member of the Thief River Falls Garden Club. In later years he worked with the Meals On Wheels program.
Quentin received several awards including the Pennington County Senior Citizen award, Thief River Falls "Outstanding Citizen" award, Thief River Falls High School Teacher of the Year, was inducted into the Minnesota State Track Coach's Hall of Fame and the Thief River Falls Education Association Prowler Hall of Fame.
He was united in marriage to Elizabeth "Libby" McBride on July 24, 1937 in Minneapolis. The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past year.
In addition to his wife, Libby, Quentin is survived by four sons, Evan M. Jones of St. Cloud, Kenneth A. Jones of Silver Spring, MD, David M. Jones of Oshkosh, WI and Thomas Q. Jones of Indianapolis, IN; six grandchildren and their mothers; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two infant children, Elizabeth and Charles; his parents; three brothers, Robert, Evan and Milton Jones; and four sisters, Verna Fitch, Alta Street, Marguerite Cook and Lucille Dean; two nephews and one niece.