HELENA—Jackie Lee (Darling) Nelson, age 49, passed away peacefully at her home in Helena on May 24, 2024, following a courageous 3 and a half year battle with cancer. Jackie was born March 22, 1975, in Kalispell, Mont., the younger of two daughters, with older sister Julie, of Jim and Linda Darling.
She attended grade school at Somers Elementary and graduated in 1993 from Flathead High School. She married Craig Nelson on August 24, l996 at the Vista Linda Cherry Orchard overlooking beautiful Flathead Lake. The couple was blessed with two sons, Colten (1998) and Dylan (2000) after making their home in Helena, Mont.
In 1997, Jackie started a long career in the insurance industry working at Cochrane Insurance, Farm-Bureau Insurance Jim McAlpine, AAA, Western States Insurance, Marsh McLennan Agency and Mountain-Pacific Quality Health. She was known for her dedication to her clients, many of whom became life-long friends, as were many of her co-workers. Growing up on Flathead Lake, Jackie loved summer fun.
Jackie enjoyed time with friends and family, proven by her frequent planning of gatherings for a potluck meal, game-night or coordinating a group attending a local social event. She was in her element outdoors creek fishing, camping, kayaking, and riding four-wheelers. Jackie also loved going to concerts and taking road trips to relax at hot springs throughout Montana.
Jackie loved music of all genres and knew all the lyrics. She was the "jingle queen" of many TV commercials from childhood and during conversations she would sing lyrics or jingles that came to her mind. She enjoyed designing and crafting DIY décor and was a generous gift maker with her holiday crafts, canning, and 'bottling' homemade liquor infusions.
Jackie is survived by sons, Colten (Jadyn Fortune) and Dylan (Josie Dowdy); grandson, Bjørn, (Colten); mother, Linda Darling; sister, Julie (Dooling) Darling; nephew, Tyler Simonson (Sarah Kirby); mother and father-in-law, Judy Fay and Phil Campbell, all of Helena; sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and Richard Glennon; niece, Jordan; and nephew, RT (Kaitlynn Weimer), all of Missoula, and her many aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Craig Nelson; father, Jim Darling; maternal grandparents, Norman and Helen Caudill; and paternal grandparents, Art and June Darling. A gathering to celebrate Jackie's life will be held at the Strong Pavilion, 5827 Hwy 12 West, Helena, from 2 to 4 p.
m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Please bring your favorite story or memory of Jackie to share.
In lieu of flowers or gifts the family suggests a donation to the cancer research center or charity of your choice..
