Janet Doughty

Janet Doughty passed away August 20, 2026. She was born in Gothenburg, Nebraska January 28, 1934, to John and Martha Sobotka. Janet was raised in the coal camps of Monarch and Acme Wyoming, along with sister Virginia and brothers Burton and Dwight. A bonus sister, Toots May, joined the family as a means to further her schooling and helping with young Janet and Burton. Toots remained a lifelong constant in family life.

Janet graduated from Sheridan High School in 1952. With her love for horses, she found work at a dude ranch, this is where she met and married Bud.

Settling in Fort Smith government camp was the perfect match for their love of the Bighorns and their love of outdoor adventures with a bonus being an exciting place to raise Fawn, Ken, Alan, and Tim.

The family's next journey would take them to northern Montana where Janet's artistic side would develop into a master at decorating cakes. Decorating cakes for friends and family well into her 80s and a few cupcakes into her 90s.

In 1967 the family moved to Grand Coulee where Janet went to work as a secretary at Center Elementary. She retired in 1998 after 30 years. The Ridge Rider Club, being a large part of her life, started out with Grammy Holbert and a drill team of teenagers. Over the years it included an adult drill team, gymkhana's, Bonnie John's clinics, EWJRA, working on the royalty, and auction committees.

In the early 1970's, Bud and Janet enjoyed racing a couple of their horses at Playfair and surrounding tracks. Janet often ponying for Tim and other jockeys. She thoroughly enjoyed the days at the Great Falls fair.

Being widowed at an early age, her independent personality intensified as she would coach young riders competing in EWJRA, her favorite being granddaughter Heather. During this time Janet also started BJ- Kennels raising miniature Australian shepherds. Janet always loved her dogs and horses, but she also loved being creative. Every fall and winter for the past 50 years, you could find her new addition of "nut people" ornaments at the local bazaar.

Christmas seemed to bring out her German ancestry and her perfection, more than once a freshly cut tree never past inspection, meaning another trip to the woods or drilling and inserting branches. Cutout cookies were abundant, those messed up by little helping hands were always eaten.

Janet enjoyed displaying Christmas lights in her neighborhood. Janet also knitted each new grand and great-grand stockings, in a design unique to them complete with the child's name. As the families grew and her hands suffered from arthritis, she would start earlier to make sure the new great grand had their stocking. There was hell to pay when she confused the child's name during the knitting of the last stocking.

Janet is survived by her children; 9 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Close to her heart was her Senior Center Family and her morning coffee group. Sunday Breakfast Club also gave her a perfect start for the week. Janet was a loyal Zags fan, loved her yard and flowers.

We appreciate each of you that brought pleasure to her journey.

The family invites you to a Celebration of Life 5:30 pm Saturday, August 29, Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center.