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Obituary of Connie Lynn Crane (online)
Anderson Stevenson Wilke & Retz Funeral Home, Helena, Montana

Connie Lynn (Crane) Beaupré, 62, passed away October 31st at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, Montana surrounded by her family after courageously battling a terminal illness.

Connie was born November 13, 1954 in Helena, Montana, the youngest of James Morris Crane and Dorothy Mae (Hoeffner) Cummings’ four children. She grew up in Clancy, Montana and attended Jefferson High School from 1969/1970 – 1971/1972, where she met her now husband Michael “Shane” Beaupré. While attending JHS, she ran track and held the 400m track record for many years. She was also crowned the 1972 prom queen with Shane Beaupré as king. Connie graduated from Helena Senior in 1973.

Upon completion of high school the sweethearts moved to Toronto, Ontario where Shane worked as a Boilermaker. Here they welcomed their first child, Shannon. Shane’s profession took the couple all over the United States which Connie enjoyed as she loved to travel and be with Shane.

After many years of travel and three more babies, Rachelle, Zach and Tara, they settled down in Boulder, Montana. In 1980 they built their home, known by friends and family as “The Cabin”. Here Connie and Shane raised their four children and enjoyed many endless nights out under the covered porch or sitting around a bonfire having a couple of drinks and talking.

Connie attended PIMA Medical Institute in 1992, where she obtained her Medical Assistant degree. She worked at a local Nursing Home for a while until she gave up her medical career to stay home and help raise her grandbabies.

Connie enjoyed camping, horseback riding and taking a cruise around the valley or exploring one of the many old jeep trails with Shane and their kids. She was often talked into going horseback riding with her children and usually ended up laughing so hard she would almost pee her pants, which would make her kids want to run the horses even faster.

She was known to wake her kids up with a little tune every morning just to get them out of bed. She would not stop singing “It’s time to rise and shine” until they were all up. This tradition is carried on by her four children to their children.

Anyone and everyone that knew Connie was always welcome at The Cabin. She would always greet you with an infectious big wide smile and would hold you with a hug so tight you could barely breathe. She always had a warm meal cooked, ready on the stove for anyone that was hungry. She would always fix your plate with more food than you can eat.

Later, in her years you would find Connie out on the porch having a drink and talkin’ with her sweetheart, Shane, kids, grandkids and friends. She loved the company and would hate to see you go. Upon leaving, you would always see her on the porch waving goodbye with an “I love you” in sign language and she would keep waving until you were out of sight.

She has been referred to as a sweetheart and will be missed by so many, The Cabin will not be the same without her.

Connie was preceded in death by her father and mother, her two brothers Tim Crane and Tom Crane, nephew Travis Crane, maternal grandparents Elsie (Rediger) Hoeffner, paternal grandparents and her beloved dogs.

Connie is survived by her loving husband, Shane, and four children, Shannon Beaupré, of Gallatin Gateway, MT; Rachelle (Ryan) Lilletvedt; Zach (Elaine) Beaupré of Helena, MT; Tara (Mike) Hertweck, of Big Timber, MT and her brothers, Dan Crane; Tyler Crane; and JJ Crane.

Connie has 12 beloved grandchildren that she considered her pride and joy: Marcus, Kinzi, Madi, Lexus, Jaden, Jayzic, Tavyn, Corbin, Quinn, Kailie, Scarlet and Carly “Bo”, as well as extended family and friends.