Chery S. Porten

Chery Elizabeth Schaffner Porten, age 90, of Miles City passed away on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care in Miles City.

Chery was born on May 13, 1921 in Hebron, North Dakota Mercer County to Elizabeth Wang Schaffner and F. Gordon Schaffner. She attended rural schools in Dunn County for eight years and graduated from Dodge High School in Dodge, North Dakota in 1939 and Dickinson State College in 1944. Chery taught in North Dakota, Washington and California. She married Russ Porten on June 25, 1953 in Dickinson, North Dakota and they moved to Miles City where they lived since.

Chery was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Women in Miles City. She was active in the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, Republican Women and Chapter K P.E.O. She operated the Hammil Courts and she and her husband Russ established one of the first K.O.A. Campgrounds in Montana. Chery had many enjoyments which included flowers, birds, light classical music, poetry, gardening and much more. She loved nature, writing, cooking, baking and entertaining friends. She enjoyed writing many articles for the Miles City Star and even published her own book called "Random Thoughts." She was known for having lovely tea´s in her comfortable relaxing home setting. Chery was also fond of animals and their welfare was very important to her.

Chery was preceded in death by her parents, husband Russ Porten in 1998; sisters Hope Schaffner Lund and Truth Schaffner Moger and a nephew Michael Moger. Chery is survived by a niece Randi Gustafson and her husband Bruce; Grandniece Tara G. Peltier and family; grandnephew Tom Gustafson and his wife Holly and their daughter; nephew Barton Booth his wife Kim and their children; nieces; Cathy Porten Matthirsen, Carol Porten Snow, Leah Grossmar and Beth Nicholls and their families; nephew Joe Porten III; niece Janet Porten Boughton and her husband Keith; brothers-in-law: Joe Porten and Ron Porten and his wife Linda; special friends Laverne and Bill Stokes, Glinda Hunter, P.E.O. Sisters and treasured friends Debbi Smith and Karen Stevenson.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 23, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City. Interment will be held in the Kyseth Cemetery in Marshall, ND. Condolences may be made to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Custer County Art Center or P.E.O. chapter K.