Amy Van Cleave

Visitation:Family will receive friends on Friday, April 4, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral service: Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Miles City Wesleyan Church

Interment: will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City

Amy Pearl Van Cleave, age 87, of Miles City passed away on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at the Holy Rosary Health Center in Miles City.

Amy was born May 14, 1920, in Miles City, Montana, to Peter and June RednerMartenson. Her mother passed away when Amy was ten, but not before Amy learned from her the importance of a relationship with God and friendship with others. Mothering and parenting skills were also modeled, and when her mother died, she became a loving mother to her younger brothers Bruce, Dean and Wally.

She graduated from Custer County High School in 1938 and worked at the Foster Drug Store lunch counter, baking a cake and a casserole daily. She soon caught the eye of Philip Van Cleave, a new Soil Conservation agent in Miles City, and he gathered his courage to ask her out. They married in 1939 at the first Baptist Church, honeymooned in Glacier National Park, and over the next eight years while they lived in Lewistown, Wibaux and Terry, six babiesthree girls and three boys-were welcomed into their home.

Through the years numerous foster children, school children from farms and ranches near Terry and Miles City, and college students from Miles Community College found love and acceptance while living in their home. In 1970, one of these foster children was so special to them they could not part with him. They adopted him and he became their fourth son.

In 1962, Amy and Philip settled back in Miles City, living in a big house on the corner lot at 704 Washington. Besides enjoying their expanding family and their cats and dogs, gardening was an interest they shared, he growing vegetables to share with friends and he nurturing beautiful flowers which graced her home and the platform at the church countless times and which also won her blue ribbons at the Eastern Montana Fair. Another interest they shared was oil painting. They took classes together and many of their children are honored to have their paintings on their walls.

Amy and Phils home was the gathering place for their friends, their childrens friends, many visiting evangelists and missionaries, and lots of birthday and holiday parties, everyone enjoying her chicken and homemade noodles, venison and home-grown potatoes, her expandable goulash, her strawberry fruit jell-o, home canned fruit and vegetables, cinnamon rolls, Christmas sugar cookies and gingerbread men and warm friendly conversation.

She was a seamstress, tackling many difficult projects for her children, sometimes sewing matching dresses on special occasions for her three daughters. Nola and Indian Love Call were two of the many songs she played beautifully on the piano and to the delight of her children, she often sang old songs from her childhood and sometimes danced a fun little jig for them. For many years she was the pianist in the Terry and Miles City Wesleyan Churches, playing for worship assemblies, Sunday School and other programs.

Amys faith in God was strong and active, and she shared Gods love with her family and her friends. Several of her children felt Gods call to become preaching ministers and even overseas missionaries. Her joyful life revolved around her family, her Wesleyan Church, and her countless friends. She was a great people net-worker, remembering names, faces, friends stories and who was related to whom. Visiting with people energized her and until the last, she graciously greeted people who visited her hospital room.

She was preceded in death by her husband Philip, brother BruceMartenson, sister-in-laws Lenore Martenson and Dawn Martenson, grandson Danny Van Cleave and his wife Emily and her great grandson Philip.

Her seven children rise up and call her blessed. So do her twenty four grandchildren and we anticipate her thirty eight great grandchildren will be shaped and influenced by her life of joyful service to God, her family, and her manyfriends.

Her surviving children and families include daughter Janet (Paul) Turner of Rapid City, SD and children Joy (Tim) Anderson; Danny Turner, Natasha and Brittany; and LoisMcGrady and Emma Chloe; son Paul (Nedra) Van Cleave of Miels City and children Denise (Dale) Erickson, John, Ian, Annalisa; Stewart Van Cleave; John (Lucy) Van Cleave, Andrew, Amber; Diane (Jonathan) Free, Rachel, Wyatt;Dorene Van Cleave, Erika, Elena; and Steve (Danyelle) Van Cleave, Phillip; son David (Donna) Van Cleave of Charles City, IA, and children Philip (Leatha) Van Cleave, Benjamin,Jedadiah, Zachariah, Christina, Jacob; Theresa (Jim) Manness, Cynthia, Micah, Erin, Wesley; Michele (Steve) Randolph, Matthew, Clayton; daughter Carol (Marcus) Brown of Tuscaloosa, AL and children Alycia, Titus, Noah; son Marty (Merry) Van Cleave of Helena and children Jason (Sarah) Van Cleave,Kyra, Elias; Melissa (Jeremy) Mueller, Miles; Aaron Van Cleave; daughter Kay (Jerry) Ludwig of Anoka, MN and children Jennifer (Jason) Hallquist, Colt; Scott (Angie) Ludwig, Dominic, Acacia; Travis (Melissa) Ludwig, Atticus; Julie Ludwig (Matt Vargas) Daimon, Luke, Abigayle; son Joe (Cyndi) Van Cleave of Bryan, TX and Avery. She is also survived by brothers Dean (Hazel) Martenson of Billings and Wally Martenson of Miles City, several nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

Family will receive friends on Friday, April 4, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Miles City Wesleyan Church. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. Should friends desire, Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.

Memorials may be made to the Miles City Wesleyan Churchs Mission Fund, 916 Garland,Miles City, MT 59301 or to another mission effort or charitable organization of your choice.