Family to Receive Friends: Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home.
Funeral services: Friday, March 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church. Interment: Custer County Cemetery.
Dawn Dee (Lee) Stirling, age 44, of Miles City passed away suddenly on Monday, February 28, 2011 at her home.
Dawn Dee was born in Columbia, Missouri on May 17, 1966, to Ron and Barbara (Balsam) Lee. Dawn Dee grew up and attended schools in Miles City and was an outstanding athlete and student. She graduated from Custer County District High School in 1984. Following graduation, she attended Miles Community College, and Iowa State University in Iowa City, Iowa where she received Bachelor of Science Degrees in Computer Applications and Natural Sciences in 1994. Most recently she attended (MSUB) Montana State University Billings and was pursuing a Masters in School Counseling. Dawn Dee worked a variety of jobs including, at the Miles City Star as the first female sports editor as news editor and as a graphic designer; Miles City Police Department as a Dispatcher and Patrol Officer, State of Montana Child and Family Services as a social worker and for the State of Wyoming Highway Patrol Port of Entry Places of Residence as a Special Federal Officer; and for DEAP as a childrens advocate.
Dawn Dee was active in youth sports as a coach, coordinator, official and journalist. She enjoyed following the athletic careers of her children, Chaz and Brittany Hedge. She volunteered her time and talents to a number of community events, including serving on the Miles City school board and as a volunteer firefighter. Most recently, she was selected as chairperson of the 2011 Miles City Relay for Life. Dawn Dee was completely dedicated to her family. She fiercely loved and was devoted to her children, her parents, siblings, their children and her many friends. She loved spending time with her children and her nieces and nephews. She cherished being a part of their lives and engaging each of them on a special personal level. She was an amazing photographer, capturing the everyday and special events that took place with her family, friends and in nature. Her dogs also occupied a special place in her heart.
Dawn Dee was so talented and hard working that she excelled at every job she had. Throughout her life, she was always a child advocate and was instrumental in improving the lives of many children. Coworkers and kids could always count on her. Dawn Dee was loved and respected by all who had the good fortune to know her. She was amazingly thoughtful and will be missed more than she could ever know.
Dawn Dee is survived by her her two children who were her world, Brittany and Chaz Hedge of Miles City, MT; step children: Jaime C. Cowan, Jessica Thompson and Jordan Stirling; her parents Ron and Barbara Lee of Miles City, MT; her siblings: Niki LaPlante, her husband Ged, and their children Conner, Chaney and Reagan all of Sparks, NV; Brad Lee, his wife Ann, and their children Megan and Brody all of Rapid City, SD; and Brandee Poandl, her husband Paul, and their daughter Payton all of Frenchtown, NJ; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents: Doc and Det Balsam and Marge and Gib Lee.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com
Should friends desire, a memorial for Dawn Dees children (Brittany and Chaz Hedge Memorial Fund) has been established at First Interstate Bank.
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