Diana Dee Kirby passed away at her home on March 23, 2020 with her daughter, granddaughter and best friend Baby Dog.
Diana was born August 27, 1931 in her grandparents’ house in the community called Ridgway, Montana. She grew up there with her grandparents, Carl & Lola Burch and her mother Crystal Palmer. Her parents later divorced and remarried and to these unions she gained 2 brothers & 2 sisters.
Her grandad Carl, known as Papa was a big influence on her life. She learned to ride horses and to work livestock from him. Her grandmother Lola, showed her how to cook and garden and to can food. Her mom moved to a new place called the Carter place and they raised sheep. Diana’s job was to herd the sheep and she had a horse and dog that kept her company all day. She called the dog Bingo and he was her best friend during that time. Now we know where she got the name “Bingo” that she called a lot of her dogs! Diana graduated from Custer County High School in 1949. After high school she worked various jobs while also learning how to play the standup bass.
Diana married Harry “Speed” Mellville and lived south of Broadus in the community of Sonnette. Together they built their first home and their daughter Karen was born. They moved to Miles City where their two sons Dennis and Kelly were born and raised. Later Diana and Harry were divorced and she met and married Jack Kirby of Jordan, MT. She continued to help Jack on the ranch raising cattle and horses with a brief attempt at sheep and farming! She truly loved the ranching business. You could often find Diana out herding cattle with her daughter Karen from one pasture to another, and often times moving them down the highway. She loved her horses and did endurance riding with her daughter in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. She was very proud of her mule that she rode bareback down main street in Jordan for her 85th birthday and also rode behind in her buggy in Jordan during the centennial parade.
Diana is preceded in death by her sons, Kelly and Dennis; husband Jack and stepson Ronnie. She is survived by her daughter Karen Frost of Jordan, granddaughter Jacinda Frost of Billings, MT; great grandchildren Kelly and Celine; great great granddaughters Eva and Athena of Billings, MT; Granddaughter Nicol Mellville of California; brothers, Larry and Gina of Idaho and Burch and Linda Palmer of Reno, Nevada; sister Lola Palmer of Texas and Lucille Major Ottesen of Miles City. Also, her best side-kick her dog Baby.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Garfield County Ambulance Fund, Jordan MT.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday March 29, 2020
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Private Services
Monday March 30, 2020
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Reception
Due to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, public officials have strongly recommended to keep Diana's service to immediate family. We ask that if anyone is not feeling well to please stay home and get feeling better. Diana would have wanted her friends to be in a safe environment during this time of uncertainty. Her family understands and appreciates your thoughts and prayers.
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Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday March 29, 2020
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Private Services
Monday March 30, 2020
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Reception
Due to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, public officials have strongly recommended to keep Diana's service to immediate family. We ask that if anyone is not feeling well to please stay home and get feeling better. Diana would have wanted her friends to be in a safe environment during this time of uncertainty. Her family understands and appreciates your thoughts and prayers.
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Allyson Kane says
Karen Dee, I am very sorry to hear that Diana passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Allyson
Phil and Darlene says
Condolences and Prayers For Karen ,Jacinda and all of Diana”s Family She was a Very Special Lady and will be missed by all who knew her . Due to the Virus we will not be attending her services Please know you will be in our thoughts.
Leah Buffington says
My condolences to Karen, Jacinda, and all of your family on the loss of your Mother, Grandmother. She was always fun to visit with and such a hard worker. All she wanted was to be able to go back to the country. She will be missed.
Audrey and Daniel says
So sorry to hear of your loss. Diane was such a wonderful kind lady.
Sylvia Aguero says
Condolences to all her family, especially to my dear friend and her only sister Mrs. Lola Palmer of Kenedy. I had the pleasure of meeting Diane on one of her visits when she came to see her beloved mother Mrs Crystal Palmer who was a resident at John Paul ll nursing home at that time. She was a wonderful and loving daughter. May she Rest In Peace.
Sylvia Aguero and family
Nicol Mellville says
Grandma I wish i could have spoken to you one more time. I love you very much. Please give my Daddy a big hug and kiss for me.
Angielynn says
So sorry for your loss. God bless you all.
We’re here for you.
Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Andrea and Justin Pluhar says
Our thoughts and prayers with you all during this difficult time. Always enjoyed Diane and Jack as neighbors growing up.
Cindy Stanton says
My condolences on the loss of Diana. She was always interesting to visit with and one of a kind.
She will be missed.
Staci johnson says
My condolences to Katen Jacinda and the rest of the family She was a remarkable woman who was loved by many. She will be greatly missed.
Cathie Waugh says
Sending prayers for your entire family. I’m so glad she got to meet her great great granddaughters Athena and Eva, and they met her. What a blessing she must’ve been!
Judy and Dale Bollinger says
Just loved Diane, and our visits. She was a precious lady, and we will sure miss her.
Karen Barnes says
Thoughts and prayers going out to all of Diane’s family during this time of loss. Diane was truly a unique person and one I really liked. Let all your good memories comfort you at this time.
Terri Coldwell says
Karen and family. I am so sorry to hear of Diane. I just loved her. She was such a sweet person. I will miss our visits. Please take care and know she will always watch over you.
Jo Dee Watson says
So sad to here this news. I thoroughly enjoyed this lady! My heartfelt sympathy to her family.
Bob and Jane Engdahl says
So sorry for your loss. She was so nice to visit with, and a very har worker. Our prayers are with you folks.
Francis Krikorian says
Karen, Jacenda and family. We were so sorry to hear about Diane. She was a great neighbor and friend.
Jenny Frady says
Sorry for the loss. May Diane soul rest in peace
SueFitzGerald says
Karen and family, so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed my little visits with Diane at the post office. She was a strong and impressive lady. Glad I got too see her one last time in Billings. Rest in peace, Diane.
Diana Vollmer says
I met Diana through our mutual love of music. I’m very sorry for your loss. As we know, it’s part of the cycle of life, but we don’t have to like it! Prayers for you all, Karen, Jacinda, and family
Jerry and Lori Murnion says
You are all in our thoughts and Prayers
Sharon Higgins says
I am so happy that we had the good visit we did at Clarice’s funeral. Sending prayers and love to all of the family. She was a special lady and I know how your hearts ache at this time. May God Bless & comfort you. We love you. Sharon & Doran
Catherine Byron says
I met Diane through the work on the Health Center renovation. What a dedicated advocate for availability of local health care she was! She was a sensitive, strong, intelligent woman. Her life enriched the lives of many – even those who never met her. Garfield County lost strong but gentle pillar in her passing. May her legacy bring each of you a measure of comfort at this time of loss.
Ken and Kathy South says
Our condolences to all of the family or Diana Kirby . She will be so missed . What an awesome lady, she ALWAYS had time to visit and showed so much interest in what you been doing, I will Miss her, our thoughts and prayers to you all.
Mitzi Beecher says
So sorry about your loss nice lady god bless you all
Rosanne Emly says
Condolences to you and your family, Karen and Jacinda. Your grief is felt by all of us, just wish you weren’t alone at this time, but it can’t be helped because of the virus and we understand this. Just take care of yourself and your family stay healthy and just know you are loved and Diana loves you and she lives on in you heart and memories. God bless you all, Rosanne Emly & Lloyd (Bill) Wright… here’s a great big hug (OOOOO) for all of you.
Dorthy M. Ley says
Our family met Diana went she purchased our Mother Edna Cozzens’s round oak table at our families auction sale and we kept in touch with her & eventually my Sister Linda Wolff purchased it back from Diana & we all were great fun to her to sell it back to our family when she was done with it. We will always be grateful to her for that, a very nice lady & admired her knowledge in horses & livestock. Our prayers to your family, I also new Speed very well but did not realize they had been married.
Kathy Stieg says
Karen. I am sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. Always enjoyed seeing her. May your memories comfort you. Prayers, Kathy Major Stieg
glen beecher says
sorry to hear about your mother
Sonja turner says
Karen and family.
So sorry for your loss. Diana was a very special lady and great neighbor. I will miss our visits in the street this summer, when I was outside she would often stop and visit. She will be missed by all. Cherish the memories
Jo Ryan says
Diana was a special lady. I really enjoyed her. So sorry for your loss.
Burch, Linda and Ray Palmer says
Love and goodbye for now, Dearest Sister Diana, but not forever. Burch, Linda and Ray