April Milroy

Visitation: Monday, April 5, 2004 from 1:00 to 5:00 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Jordan

Vigil Service: Monday, April 5, 2004 at 6:00 pm at the St. Johns Catholic Church in Jordan

Funeral Service: Tuesday, April 6, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Jordan

Interment: follow at the Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan

April Milroy, of Jordan, died peacefully in her sleep on April 1, 2004, her birth month, at the tender age of 56.

April was born on April 5, 1947 in Jordan, MT at the Good Samaritan Hospital to Vernon (Buzz) & Eileen (Herald) Fogle, she was the first of six children. She attended Jordan Elementary and Garfield County High School graduating with honors in 1965. She attended the Nursing Program at Carroll College until the spring of 1966. April and Donald (DJ) Milroy were married on July 23, 1966 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan, MT. Together they had two outstanding children; Melodie & Tracy. April spent a lifetime in ranching where she especially enjoyed working with sheep and Angora goats, which were her size.

Known for her compassion, zest for life, creativeness, stamina, optimism, loyalty, community, spirituality, she was committed to Eastern Montana and its people, especially Garfield County. In addition to her commitment to her ranch work and raising her children, she became active in many volunteer organizations. For the late 70s and early 80s, April was active in Catholic Altar Society, Garfield County Library Board, Rural Health Initiative (RHI), Eastern Montana Mental Health Board, EMT Training, EMT Teaching, Ambulance Board, Garfield County Hospital Board, 4-H, Maids of all Trades Home Demonstration Club, County Commissioner and Ambulance Driver. April also worked with the legislative delegation to facilitate passing the MAF (Medical Assistance Facility) act.

In the early 90s, April was instrumental in the financing, building and operating of the new Garfield County Health Center where she also took extra time to visit and entertain residents on the piano. She continued to teach EMT courses and drive ambulance. In the late 90s, she began working at the Pioneer Garage in Jordan as a bookkeeper, where she worked until October, 2003. Along with her family, she was also active in many wagon trains and chuck wagon projects.

In August of 2000, three months after nursing her husband DJ through cancer surgery, April was diagnosed with breast cancer, immediately had surgery and began chemotherapy. She continued to work at her job at the Pioneer Garage through four months of chemotherapy and endured chemo induced pneumonia. Because of the advanced stage of her cancer, April entered a more rigorous therapy in January of 2001 at the Stem Cell Center at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Billings. April began the process of harvesting stem cells, during which time she had to have emergency gall bladder surgery. April then began high dose chemotherapy with stem cell recovery, resulting in a critical two-week hospital stay with internal bleeding. In April of 2001, April was sent home to recuperate from treatment. By May, an extreme case of bursitis had settled in her hip. By mid-June the hip pain was severe and it was determined that her hip was broken and dislocated, caused from her extreme chemotherapy. She had hip replacement surgery and 3 weeks later, on July 4th the second hip broke and she had hip replacement surgery again.

In August of 2003, April and DJ sold the family ranch and relocated to Billings, MT where they began operating a horse boarding and overnight horse motel, along with becoming landlords of a residential rentals. April was planning to pursue completion of her college degree in nursing in the fall of 2003. With concern of how her brain had been affected by the chemotherapy, she took the nursing school entrance exam and was proud to find out she scored at the 99th percentile in the nation. April spent a tremendous amount of time with her grandchildren until December of 2003, at which time she became very ill. By the first week of January 2004, April was hospitalized and it was determined that her cancer had returned in her liver and through out her bone's. She had broken ribs, needed blood transfusions and began chemotherapy weekly. DJ and April joined a new holistic cancer program called Hope for Tomorrow, and became very close with the group in a short time. In March, it was determined that Aprils hip socket had begun to deteriorate causing extreme pain. On March 16th, April had hip replacement surgery once more. During her recovery she became extremely sick and it was determined that her liver was failing due to the cancer involvement.

Aprils condition worsened very quickly and she, with the support of her family, made the difficult decision to discontinue her fight with the cancer. Less than one week after her decision, her suffering was relieved when she passed into heaven.

April is survived by her husband, DJ of Billings, MT, daughter Melodie of Billings, MT, son Tracy of Flowing Wells, son-in-law Mick of Billings, MT, brothers Vernon of Helena, MT, and Tim of Jordan, MT, sister Therese of Little Dry, MT, a brother-in-law, Sid of Little Dry, MT; sister-in-law, Charlene of Billings, MT, mother-in-law Irene of Miles City, MT grandchildren; Jordan, Brooke, John and Morgan of Billings, MT, Aunts; Almeada of Jordan, MT Alice of Jordan, MT and Margaret Ann of Gillette, WY, Uncles; Gale of Gillette, WY, Kenney of Jordan, MT Nieces; Nikki of Central City, CO, Shawna of Billings, MT, Bridget of Little Dry, MT, Shiloh of Little Dry, MT nephews; Jason of Jordan, MT, Sheldon of Brusett, MT, Trent of Billings, MT, Donovan of Billings, MT, Michael of Jordan, MT, goddaughter; Genille, of Billings, MT godmother Ada of Powell, WY and numerous cousins.

April was preceded in death by an infant sister Dawn Marie, her parents Buzz & Eileen, brother Mike, her Grandparents, and a godson, Kent Whiteside.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 5, 2004 from 1:00 to 5:00 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Jordan. A vigil service will be held on Monday, April 5, 2004 at 6:00 pm at the St. Johns Catholic Church in Jordan. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Jordan. Interment will follow at the Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Garfield County Health Center or to the Garfield County Ambulance, Jordan, MT 59337 or to the charity of one's choice.