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Carole Lynn Incoronato Toppins

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JC

Just Cremation

Carole Lynn Incoronato Toppins

January 4th, 1951 - March 9th, 2023

January 4th, 1951 - March 9th, 2023

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Carole Lynn Incoronato Toppins was born in Helena Montana on January 4th, 1951 to Don and Jean (Cole) Incoronato. With her older brother Ron, she completed the family and had a happy childhood, loving the outdoors. She learned from her mother that if you went out on one road, if possible you always took a different road home. She was a good student and attended the University of Montana. In the fall of 1972 we met at Eddie's Club in Missoula and she ended up sitting on my lap that night and that was that. She went home to Helena for Thanksgiving weekend and came back to Missoula on Sunday and arrived at my door with her suitcases. She thought I had money (I had a job), I thought she had money (she had a student loan, which we spent – it took us 12 years to pay off that loan). In the spring, the railroad sent me to work in Kansas City and Carole got a job as a token white girl in a flower shop in a rough neighborhood. We had a great time there. In the summer we came back to Missoula, found a house in Philipsburg, bought it for $3000 and moved in – we always said it was the best house we ever lived in. In June of 1976, we decided she needed to get on my health insurance and should get married. Afraid anyone could talk us out of it, we told no one and ran away to Coeur d'Alene Idaho and got married. In the next 15 years the railroad moved us to Laurel and then back to Missoula and into our home of 33 years. Carole loved her hound dogs (Rastus, Olive, Gracie and Gumley), delighted in her friends, camping in our old camper all over the Southwest, 4 birding trips to Mexico, getting her hands in the dirt and creating beautiful flower gardens where ever she lived, rock hounding, bird watching, skiing, weaving , painting, sculpting, and honing her wicked sense of humor. As a member of Audubon, she served a term as secretary for the state board, and chapter secretary for the Missoula and Billings chapters. She was proud of having identified 359 different species of birds in Montana. She was most proud of her involvement with Save The Fort. Her father was a sailor on a cargo ship that was seized in Boston Harbor and he was brought to Fort Missoula as an Italian Non-combatant Internee during World War II. He was eventually released to work on the railroad. When Carole found out the University Foundation and the Country Club in Missoula had a sweetheart deal to put condos on the Fort Missoula grounds, she and 2 other friends sprang into action. As help poured in from the community, they gathered over 13,000 signatures in a cold December week to protest. The core group made multiple trips to Helena testifying before the State Land Board. Eventually the case went to the Montana Supreme Court which decided in Save The Fort's favor. She took delight in being referred to by lawyers for the foundation and the country club as “that woman”. In spite of many health challenges, she survived and thrived until the last few years. She passed peacefully at home at 72 years young at 540 pm on Thursday, March 9th, 2023. She is survived by her partner and husband Terry Toppins, their Swiss Walking Hound Gumley, her brother Ron (Dee) Incoronato of Big Fork, numerous nieces and nephews, and friends. Celebration of a life well lived plans are up in the air

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MH

Margie Hendricks

Carol was an unsung hero. She dedicated several years, in cooperation with others, to address unethical practices involving the University of Montana, the UM Foundation, the Missoula City Council and the Missoulian, who proved itself incapable of doing public affairs journalism involving local influential entities. At a City Council meeting in 1993, Carol spoke to the importance of considering the hundreds of bird species that nested in the along the Bitterroot River when considering potential development of the land and the importance of the land being the first Japanese Interment camp in the country. Carol, along with others, was hampered in their ability to participate in the zoning decision that was in process in order to sell the land for development. The outrageous actions by the city would several years later be documented in a national planning professional's magazine by the Missoula City Planner who had by that time resigned. Because of Carol and others efforts the sale of Fort land for development was called illegal by the Montana Supreme Court. Carol did what citizens are supposed to do. I am proud of her and the group she was so devoted to "Save the Fort". Rest in piece defender of the Republic.

Published March 15th, 2023
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MH

Margie Hendricks

Carol was an unsung hero. She dedicated several years, in cooperation with others, to address unethical practices involving the University of Montana, the UM Foundation, the Missoula City Council and the Missoulian, who proved itself incapable of doing public affairs journalism involving local influential entities. At a City Council meeting in 1993, Carol spoke to the importance of considering the hundreds of bird species that nested in the along the Bitterroot River when considering potential development of the land and the importance of the land being the first Japanese Interment camp in the country. Carol, along with others, was hampered in their ability to participate in the zoning decision that was in process in order to sell the land for development. The outrageous actions by the city would several years later be documented in a national planning professional's magazine by the Missoula City Planner who had by that time resigned. Because of Carol and others efforts the sale of Fort land for development was called illegal by the Montana Supreme Court. Carol did what citizens are supposed to do. I am proud of her and the group she was so devoted to "Save the Fort". Rest in piece defender of the Republic.

Published March 15th, 2023
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