Sharon Woods

Sharon Y. Woods, aged 89, a beloved music teacher and farmwife, passed away on

April 7, 2025.

A memorial service to celebrate Sharon’s life will be held on April 26 at 1:00 PM at the

Chester United Methodist Church (510 Monroe Avenue, Chester, MT), followed by a

reception in the fellowship hall. Friends and family are invited to attend and pay their

respects. Sharon will be laid to rest next to her husband Bill at Highland Cemetery in

Havre, MT with a committal service at 3:00 PM.

Sharon Y. Woods was born on June 26, 1936, to Elmer and Blanche (Maristuen)

Hagen in Malta, Montana. While Sharon was a small child, her family lived in the little

community of Fort Peck, where her father worked building the WPA Fort Peck Dam,

until his work injury caused them to move to Glasgow. Sharon grew up and attended

school in Glasgow, MT. Sharon was very talented musically, and as a teen, she often

played piano in concerts with her sister Shirley around the state. Sharon attended

Glasgow High School and graduated with a BS degree in Music Education - Vocal &

Instrumental K-12, from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. At home or at

school, Mrs. Woods is remembered as an elegant lady who was always well dressed,

and whose performances were well-rehearsed.

Sharon first taught music in Joplin, MT for five years, where she met her husband

William Woods. They married in Glasgow one very hot day, on July 13, 1963, and

celebrated their 60 th wedding anniversary prior to Bill’s passing in 2023. They taught

together first in Ekalaka, MT for a year, before beginning a long teaching tenure in

Culbertson, MT, where she taught K-12 th grade vocal and instrumental music.

Sharon’s teaching career in Culbertson was marked by her strict commitment to

excellence, and a desire to inspire a love for music in her students. Mrs. Woods was a

no-nonsense, demanding teacher, who set high standards for her students, but she also

inspired admiration and great achievement in her students. In remembering Mrs.

Woods, several of her former students named her as the most influential teacher in their

lives. In addition to teaching all levels of music, her select vocal and swing band groups,

pep band, marching band, school concerts, and solos and ensembles for district and

state music festivals were practiced to perfection, especially her marching band, which

was admired and respected (and maybe a little bit envied) in northeastern Montana.

Additionally, she offered scholarships to the International Peace Gardens Music Camp

each year for deserving musicians. After her retirement, she was honored to be asked

to conduct the Culbertson All-School Reunion band, and even that huge band was still

ready to snap their instruments to attention when she clicked her baton on the director’s

stand! Throughout her career, her students earned numerous accolades, and Mrs.

Woods was highly respected in her community for her expertise and dedication.

During their years teaching in Culbertson, Sharon and Bill returned each summer to the

Woods family farm near Rudyard, MT. They farmed initially with brother Walter and Ann

and then later on their own. They retired from teaching in Culbertson and returned to

the family farm full-time in 1984, although Sharon continued to teach music as needed

in the Rudyard and Joplin-Inverness communities as a substitute teacher. Sharon was

actively involved in the Inverness United Methodist Church and served as the organist

until the closing of the church. Often, Sharon’s sister Shirley would visit for an extended

period of time, and they would provide beautiful piano and organ duets for the little

church.

Sharon was a devoted wife to Bill, sister to Shirley, and aunt to Shirley’s son, Casey

Boley. Her home was always open to them. Throughout their lives Bill and Sharon were

each other’s constant companions, whether it was teaching or farming or sharing a love

of music and travel. She is remembered as a talented, elegant lady who was always

well-dressed and perfectly coifed. Bill and Sharon enjoyed many wonderful trips and

acquired multiple timeshares around the US. Their favorite places to vacation were

Hawaii and Sedona, Arizona, and Sharon created many photo albums to enjoy in their

later years. Sharon’s sister, Shirley, also accompanied them on many of these trips.

Sharon was predeceased by her parents, her aunts Gladys Wolter and Delores Halland;

her brother Jerry Hagen, and sister Shirley Boley. She is survived by her brother-in-law

Walter (Ann) Woods of Hermiston, OR; sister-in-law Pearl Hagen of Glasgow, MT;

beloved nephew Casey (Angie Gulick) and their boys Rian and Lucas; her nephews

Dan (Kim) Woods and family of Redondo Beach, CA; Richard (Carie) Hagen and family

of Colorado Springs, CO; Robert (Michelle) Hagen and family of Broomfield, CO;

Ronald (Lori) Hagen and family of Boise, ID; nieces Joanie Woods (Gerald) Moore and

family of Hermiston, OR; and Laura (Frank) Dorchak and family of Colorado Springs,

CO; and cousins Greg (Elizabeth) Woods and their family of Inverness, MT.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the many special caregivers, friends

and staff at the Wheat Country Estates and Logan Health Center in Chester, MT for the

loving care they gave Sharon in her final years.

Memorials are suggested to the Culbertson Public Schools Band instrument

replacement fund, or Donor’s choice.