Beth Hilger Noel was born on October 18, 1951 to Don and Sara Hilger in Helena, Montana. She was the first of four children followed by Pam, Donnie and Tom. Beth grew up on the Circle 2 ranch north of Wolf Creek in the Dearborn Valley. Beth attended school in the area until midway through her freshman year and finished at Helena High School. Beth lived with the Hollow family during the week, and went home each weekend.

Growing up on a ranch, rodeo was in her blood, she ran the barrels, poles and more, but her finest accomplishment being chosen as the 1969 High School Rodeo Queen of Montana. This earned Beth a trip to Houston where she competed in Barrel Racing at the National High School Rodeo Finals.

After high school, Beth attended Montana State University where she enjoyed all aspects of life. She met many lifelong friends through her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi.

In 1970, Beth backpacked all over Europe with her close friend Peggy Hollow. They traveled countless miles across England, Scotland, France, Italy and Greece which sparked Beth's love of travel.

After Europe, Beth became a ski bum living in the Sun Valley region of Idaho. She worked, skied, and chased her favorite bands around the area. She saw Waylon and Willie in Jackson Hole and the Mission Mountain Wood Band was always somewhere close.

After a few years of finding herself, Beth found Duane on a dance floor. The couple who said they didn't want to get married, were married in a small ceremony in Helena. From here family life started.

The new couple and a whole host of family and friends built a log home on the east side of Rodgers Pass. With grit, determination, fueled with a little beer and whiskey the home was completed. About the time the house was completed, their first child was born, Kyler, followed by Quinn, four years later.

While living on Rodgers Pass the family had many stories that lived in lore. Beth shooting a raccoon who was stealing dog food and keeping her awake off the deck rail in front of her young son Kyler. Although in fairness she didn't know he was watching. A mountain lion later made a den under that same deck and the time Beth destroyed her knee in the creek bottom training a horse and had to crawl back to the house to get help.

In the late 80's, Beth's parents moved their ranch to the Horse Prairie area south of Dillon to start a larger cattle operation, the first calving season was horrible and they needed help. Beth took the boys to the ranch where they helped for nine months and Duane joined on weekends. The ranch survived the winter, but the wheels of change were moving for the Noels and they moved to Helena. Duane's reclamation business took off and Beth was always helping and trained horses in her spare time.

An opportunity presented itself to Beth and Duane to buy 150 acres in the Helena valley and this how Grass-Lands sod farm got its start. Beth loved the sod farm. She was intricately involved from rock removal to mowing every other day and all business needs in the middle. Her license plates at this point even read: Kiss My Grass. Beth's boys were raised on this property. This is where the family lived while playing sports and this is the chapter of Beth and Duane's life where they literally chased their children around the country; from Billings and Kalispell to Flagstaff, AZ and Bangor, Maine. When the boys moved out of the house it was time to look towards retirement. The sod farm was developed into Grass-Lands Estates.

Beth and Duane decided to move to downtown Helena buying a home on Getchel Street where they could walk to dinner and coffee with friends. The traveling and retirement had started, but it wasn't to last. Duane became sick and cut their dreams of traveling together short. In March 2011 Beth lost Duane. This started a new chapter of life for Beth. She started to spend her winters in AZ where many more adventures and friends were made. She traveled the country with her friends while staying warm in the process. Beth loved the beaches of Mexico and would travel to them many times in her retired years. Birthday trips, family trips, why not trips – the ocean called to this Montana girl. At one point she even sold her small herd of cattle to take her boys to Hawaii.

In September 2022, Beth was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Even with this terrible diagnosis she would not take it sitting down. Beth was stubborn to the end; doing things her own way. While battling cancer she built a subdivision, built a house, took her family to Mexico, went on a family Disney cruise to the Caribbean, and become her boy's consultant on their own remodels and construction of their own homes.

The only thing Beth loved more than travel was her family. In her final months the family would all go to Mimi's house; all the grandkids would run and play and make too much noise that fed her spirit.

On Monday, May 27, 2024, Duane took Beth for another dance. Although our hearts are broke, we also take joy in the fact they are together again. We all loved Beth. We love her spirit, tenacity, and drive. She will be missed by all her remaining siblings, nieces, nephews, friends, and especially her boys Kyler (Jenn) and Quinn (Taryn) and her three grandchildren Huck, Scarlett, and Rorik.

In lieu of flowers, Beth's family asks that you take something you loved about her and share it. Share it with your kids, your family, and your friends; pass it along, let it be part of who you are. That way there will be a little Beth in all of us for years to come.  Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family.