Joanne Lynn Birch     Born: 20 Dec 1951     Died:  3 Jan 2011     Collection Social Security Death Index        Last Residence:  85234 Gilbert, Maricopa, Arizona

Cemetery:  Moore Cemetery, Fergus County, Montana     https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113131673

-Arizona Republic,   Joanne Lynn Birch passed away peacefully on January 3, 2011. 
Joanne was born on December 20, 1951 in Rochester, NY, to Donald and Jeanne Chapin. She spent her first 6 years in Churchville, NY before her family moved to Arizona in 1957. She attended Scottsdale Kaibab K-8 and graduated from Scottsdale HS in 1969. 
Joanne attended Arizona State University, receiving a BS in Psychology (1973) and an MS in Education (1975). She taught 7/8 grade science/math in Tempe for 11 years. She worked at Motorola/Freescale for over 20 years before retiring and a brief return to teaching in 2008. 
She enjoyed traveling, reading, hiking, camping, aerobics, running (marathons and half-marathons), all animals, gardening (especially roses) and the solitude of our home in Montana. Joanne was caring and compassionate with a gentle sense of humor. She loved spending time with her friends and family, and was devoted to the education of her daughters. Joanne was diagnosed with a GBM brain tumor in June 2009 and fought the disease bravely for 18 months. 
She is survived by her husband and love-of-her-life Bill, daughters Chris and Becky, mother Jeanne Chapin, sister Janet Kriss (Don), brother Jon Chapin, and father-in-law Ken Birch. A brother-in-law, Mark Froehlich and five sisters-in-law: Laurie Birch (Tom Sterk), Candace Birch-Sterling (Carl Sterling), Nancy Birch (Blair Woodger), Lisbeth Page (Steve), and Nancy Hall (Daniel) survive Joanne. She will also be missed by her numerous nieces and nephews. 
Her family will miss her piano playing, her warmth, and her steadfast enthusiasm for all our family's adventures. Joanne will forever be in our hearts. There will be a celebration of 
Joanne's life and a short reception at the Messinger Mortuary Chapel in Scottsdale, AZ at 10AM on January 29, 2011. A private ceremony to spread her ashes will be held at a later date in Moore, Montana. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to an educational scholarship the family is setting up in Joanne's honor, or a charity of your choice.