Janet Bloomgren Fox
Janet Ellen Bloomgren Fox was born to Blaine and Ellen Bloomgren on August 25, 1951 in Kalispell, Montana. Old photographs of Janet hint at her spirit and charisma, which her parents confirmed. Janet learned to play the piano and sign at a young age. These musical talents would provide a foundation for her professional life. Janet graduated from Libby High School in 1969 and attended Valparaiso University.
In 1973, Janet welcomed daughter Nora into the world. Daughter Susan followed in 1975. These three young ladies made a formidable impression on a young man named Dennis Fox. Dennis and Janet married in 1978. Son Patrick was born in 1979.
In 1980, she resumed her collegiate studies, earning her bachelor’s degree in education and music with honors from Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University Billings). Janet started her teaching career at Crow Agency Elementary School in 1983. Several years later, she took the position of choir director at Hardin High School and Hardin Middle School. For 20 years, she taught Hardin’s choir students and mentored many aspiring singers and musicians. Janet mastered not only her God-given voice of mezzo-soprano, but she also sang alto, tenor, and even bass. She could sight-read piano and sight-sing anything and everything.
Between various concerts and festivals, Janet dedicated many hours on and off the clock to her students and her craft. Jant “retired” from choir direction in 2007 and began teaching music to young kids at the Hardin primary and intermediate schools. She loved the children and their joy for life and music. In 2015, Janet retired from teaching after 32 years. Janet travelled the world with Dennis and was one of the original staff members for Northern Ambassadors of Music, a bi-annual music tour of Europe for students from Montana and North Dakota. She and Dennis visited all seven Modern Wonders of the World and the remaining Ancient Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Egypt. Together, they visited five of the seven continents.
After retirement, Janet spent her free time chasing her grandkids, playing bridge, and living life to the fullest. Sadly, on March 30, 2017, Janet passed away peacefully in her sleep due to a stroke after an extended hospitalization. Former students and colleagues called Janet an earthly angel, the kindest person, a fantastic teacher, and a loving “mother of many”. In memory of Janet and her passion for music, her parents, Blaine and Ellen, established the Janet Bloomgren Fox Memorial Scholarship Endowment at MSU Billings to provide financial assistance to music education majors. Janet’s legacy will be appreciated by aspiring musicians and teachers at MSU Billings for generations. The first scholarship was awarded in the academic year 2018-2019.