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

She 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 from Hill City High School in 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 began 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, Mont., to teach Kindergarten at HC Davis Elementary School. She remained teaching there until her recent passing.

Tina knew from a young age that teaching and working with children were her passions, along with nature, the mountains, and traveling. She was always the town babysitter growing up, and she loved mothering and teaching her three 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, the most notable being a trip to the Swiss Alps, 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, snowshoeing, 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 its creatures. 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 who 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 four nephews, niece, and two 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 who was extremely dedicated, organized, structured, had a great sense of humor, and was 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 the lives of all her family and friends. She was our North Star and mentor, our advice giver and voice of reason. All the people who 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 from her Kansas roots. She was the best sister, friend, daughter, aunt, and teacher.

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