Arlyne Reichert papers, 1946-2015

Arlyne Estelle Cohn was born on January 14, 1926 in Buffalo, New York to Charles and Anne Cohn. Her interest in politics began early in life, and she aspired to one day run for U.S. Congress but then realized she would have to mortgage her house to finance a campaign. While attending the University of Buffalo’s Cadet Nurses Training program, Arlyne met her future husband Harold “Rick” Reichert, on December 25, 1942. They married in 1945 after he returned from serving overseas in the U.S. military. The couple moved to Great Falls and had five children: Cheryl, Greg, Robert, Claire, and Roger. Reichert did not continue her nursing training because at that time married women were not accepted for training at either hospital in Great Falls.

In 1967, Reichert began working at the McLaughlin Research Institute with Dr. Jack Stimpfling as the executive secretary and technical editor of the Transplantation Journal. Reichert’s involvement in local government began after she moved to Great Falls and served as a Library Trustee and President of the Friends of the Great Falls Public Library. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters, serving on both the Local and State Boards.

In 1970, Reichert ran for the Montana state legislature and lost, but the following year, was elected as a 1972 Constitutional Convention delegate. She served on the Legislative Committee and pushed for a unicameral legislature, although Montana voters decided against it when the new Constitution was ratified.

After the Convention, Reichert remained active in Great Falls local government. She participated in getting the local government structure changed from a mayor-alderman form to commission-manager system. In 1974, she was elected to the Cascade County Study Commission. She also served as a legislative analyst for television news and Regional Vice President of the National Municipal League.

In 1979, Reichert was elected to the Montana State House of Representatives and served one term. During that time, she worked on the topics of a unicameral legislature and separation of powers. Reichert retired as Assistant Director of the McLaughlin Institute in 1989. Arlyne Reichert remains active in local politics and historic preservation efforts, including preservation of the Great Falls 10th Street Bridge. Her efforts to save the bridge led her to establish Preservation Cascade, Inc., which she serves on as secretary-treasurer. She also served as a National Civic League council member and on the Montana Capitol Restoration Committee.

Reichert died on May 3, 2024 and is buried at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls, Montana. Her husband, Rick, died of cancer in 1968.