Fawn Gongre

Fawn Rieger Gongre, born on July 18, 1941, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Billings, Montana.  She was born in Miles City, Montana to Anna McFarland and Francis St. Peter. 

Upon her father’s passing, Anna married Ben J. Rieger who proudly became the father of Fawn and her older brother.  Fawn had four siblings: Terry (Barb) Rieger of California, Lyria (Marshall) Miller of Washington, Valarie (Randall) Grimm of Pennsylvania, and Elna (Andrew) Thomas of Billings.

Fawn attended elementary school at Sacred Heart in Miles City, Montana.  She attended junior high and high school in Harlowton, Montana. She earned an Associate's Degree and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary degree from Montana State University Billings and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from University of Montana.

Fawn taught in Broadview; Lancaster, California; with the Department of Defense in Berlin, Germany; Shreveport, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; and Billings, Montana.  She was school principal in her last few years in Billings before retirement.

Fawn loved her five nephews and several nieces as well as her numerous great nieces, great nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles very much. Family was very important to her along with various volunteer commitments, students, and friends she taught throughout her years.  She found pleasure and solace in travel, reading, theatre, and spending time with family and friends.

She was cherished and deeply loved by all and will be missed.  The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and help for Fawn with extra thanks to the staff at Highgate Senior Living in Billings for their compassion and extraordinary care of Fawn as well as the Billings Clinic Hospital for their compassion and care as she prepared for her end-of-life journey.

She was preceded in death by her father Ben J. Rieger and Mother Anna Rieger.  Fawn is survived by her daughter Michelline (David) Graves of Nevada, grandchildren Hunter Graves, Garren Graves, and Gracee Graves all of Nevada; brother Terry, sisters Lyria, Valarie, and Elna.

A vigil service will be held on June 18, 2025, at 6 pm at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings, Montana. A Memorial Service will be held on June 19, 2025, at 11 am at St. Pius Catholic Church in Billings Montana.