Jo Ann White

JoAnn White of Gillette, Wyoming, age 86, peacefully passed away with family near Tuesday the 10th of August. Born in Minnewauken, North Dakota She was known for her energy, love of people and good whiskey. JoAnn’s life was centered round people and adventure. In her earlier days, she was an avid swing dancer and beautician student. Looking glamours and starry eyed was the style. Match that with forever hopeful and supportive, and you have her main character. Two daughters came to her and so did difficult times. With $50 dollars in her pocket and two young girls, she went to Cutbank, Montana where a tall stranger who frequented the bar/restaurant caught her eye as he pretended to read books upside down. Harry White married her in her hometown and took her to Chicago and had a son. The two always had time from friends and family and made regular trips to North Dakota and Wyoming to visit family. With the girls gone west, and their son working in Chicago. They retired to Melbourne, Florida. JoAnn did not stop, however, to smell the roses. She began organizing group trips all over the globe, parties, plays, sing-a-longs, and golf outings to name just a few. Clicking a honky-tonk rhythm out the side of her mouth and raising her elbows, she’d dance and say, let’s have a drink. She blessed many lives. Those golden years were punctuated after the death of her husband with a friend Heinz Peper, who became her partner and moved with her to Gillette, Wyoming to be near family in later years.  She is survived by her brothers, Truman (Debbie) Nordhougen of Mesa, AZ; David Nordhougen, of Williston, ND; her daughter, Sherry (John) Percifield of Gillette, WY; son, James White of Dublin, Ireland; G=grandchildren, Angie Len (William) Morfeld and Brian (Kristyn) Percifield of Gillette, WY; Robert Percifield of Ft. Collins, CO; Fionnula Foley and Padraig Foley of Burnsville, MN; Fallon White, Faustyna White and Lilianna White of Skoczow, Poland and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Harry White; her daughter Connie Ann (Kuntz) Wilson; sister Artice Pierson (Nordhougen); brothers, Robert Nordhougen and Gary Nordhougen, and along with her late in life partner Heinz Peper. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com