Ethel Lee (Deibel) Hubbard, 67, passed away December 24th, 2014 of Multiple Myeloma.Lee Hubbard was born the youngest of 4 kids to Buster and Gladys (Bird) Deibel on February 18, 1947 near Olive, Mt. She attended the Wolf Creek rural school until the school buses started to run in the spring of 1959. During her school years Lee was a member of the Mizpah 4-H club, participated in music, FHA and became a member of the Baptist Church in Broadus. In 1965 Lee graduated from Powder River County High School, and in 1969 she graduated from MSU in Bozeman with a bachelor degree in Home Economics Education with a minor in Library Science. She started her teaching career in Chester on the Montana “highline”. After two years it was off to live in Bozeman, and become the librarian at Belgrade (both places she had the elementary and high school libraries and taught Jr. High Home Ec.) In 1973 Lee married William Brent Hubbard in Bozeman’s Grace Bible Church. In 1975 she worked at a bridal salon in Bozeman. In 1975 Brent went to work for a furniture store and they choose to move to Scottsdale, AZ. Lee took a job at Trailside Galleries. Selling art became Lee’s career for the next 20 years. Besides Scottsdale, she spent five summers at the Trailside Galleries in Jackson, WY, and managed a satellite gallery in the Phoenix Airport. In 1987 Lee moved to Monterey, CA to work at the GWS Galleries in Carmel, CA. In 1996 Lee moved to Wickenburg, AZ to help her brother, Myron, start up a Super 8 Motel. In 1999 she moved back to Montana to help her mom and dad on the ranch and she became reacquainted with her hometown. She soon realized there was no place like the area she grew up in and decided to stay. In 2002 Lee became the curator of the Powder River Historical Museum, a job she held until her death. In 2005 Lee moved into Broadus to live in a triplex she had built. She resided there until her death. Lee was active in her church, Faith Bible, belonged to the Broadus Homemakers and was a member of the Coalwood Ladies Aid. Lee had a passion for preserving the history of Powder River County, which is evident in the many improvements that were made in the museum. Lee loved art and had many artists as friends. She was a caregiver and a good friend to many people. Lee also sang in the community choir, a love she had started with in school.
Lee is preceded in death by her parents and both sets of grandparents. She is survived by her beloved dog Tiffany; brothers, Myron (Betsy) Deibel of Wickenburg, AR. , Jack (Mary Lou) Deibel of Miles City, MT and a sister, Doris (Harley) Abarr of Forsyth, MT, 4 nieces, Jackee (Craig ) Randall of Broadus, Mt., Wendee (Aaron) Essex, Karalee (Warren) Fritz, Kristee (Ward) Weischedel all of Miles City, MT, one nephew, John Abarr of Great Falls, MT, 12 great nephews and nieces, and 2 great great nieces. 5 step-nieces: Shelley(Tracey) Zastoupil, Tammy(Mark) Gnerer, Teresa(Dennis) Dorvall, Tracy(Gilbert) Speelman, Stephanie(Jestin) Nedens, 1 step-nephew, Gregory(Alicia) Minow, and 16 step-great nieces and nephews. Lee is also survived by her former husband, Brent Hubbard and a sister-in-law, Peggy Jones.
Memorials may be made to the Powder River Historical Museum, Powder River Farm in the Dell or the charity of one’s choice.
Visitation will be held on Monday, December 29, 2014 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Bible Church in Broadus. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Broadus is in charge of the arrangements.
Cora Mae Ofstie says
E. Lee and I have been friends since she was born! We share a Birthday and have had many Birthday Parties together as children. We grew up on neighboring ranches and I have loved her forever. She was so talented, so loving, so brave. We will miss her always.
Karen Gunther says
Lee and I have been friends since high school, I feel so happy that I was Lee the last w few weeks when she did not feel very good, helped her a lot. Lee I will miss you so much , but know your pain is gone and you are with our Lord, prayers to your family.
Pam Nisley says
I have only known Lee for about 10 years, but I am all the richer for her having touched my life~ I will miss her greatly, but know because we both share faith in Jesus Christ, we will again be reunited!
Vanna Lancaster Byrd says
I can’t really say how long I’ve known Lee. She made it so easy to feel like she had known you, and you had known her, forever. I will really miss seeing her around and her cheerful “Hello, Vanessa, it’s good to see you.” greetings. Vanna
Bonnie Bogner Sprague says
Lee is a beautiful soul and so sorry to hear of her passing. I send prayers and condolences to her family and friends! May she now fly with the angels!
Carmen Knutson says
Our community has lost another Treasure! I will miss you Lee. I loved your gentle, quiet way. Your welcome smile and calm made it easy to talk to you. I know you are at peace now and will watch over all of us that miss you dearly.
Sally Borla says
SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT LEE’S PASSING–I CAN’T IMAGINE THE MUSEUM WITHOUT HER– SHE WAS SUCH A CAPABLE, INTELLIGENT LADY AND WE HAVE INDEED LOST A VALUABLE
PERSON HERE IN P.R. COUNTY. I THINK WE BOTH MOVED BACK TO BROADUS ABOUT THE SAME TIME AND WE HAD SOME INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR PAST JOBS. SHE HAD HER FAITH AND IS AT PEACE NOW. GOD BLESS.
Cheri (Dyk) Holland says
Dear Lee – you have completed the circle of your life. Thank you for so many gifts, so many dinners, parties, lunches, travels, a friendship that began in Bozeman many decades ago. The circle began when you rented my grandmother’s apartment in Bozeman, and was continued years later when you rented your extra bedroom to me in Monterey. The best circle of all, is that you are in the presence of Christ in person, seeing God face to face. How beautiful that you died on Christmas Eve, the night before we celebrate the birth of Christ, when the world had its first glimpse of the face of Christ. All is well, even through our sadness, but I’m going to try to be joyful for you and miss you dearly.
Gerald & Janet Himelspach says
So sorry to hear of Lee’s passing. She was a special, talented and wonderful person. We were fortunate to have her for our friend. Lee will be missed very much, we always looked forward to a visit with her when we returned to Broadus. Our sympathy and prayers of comfort to Lee’s family.
Linda Nybakken says
So sad to deal with the loss of a special friend and special lady. Your many talents and contributions will be a great loss to the people of Powder River County and the Museum. Under your management and direction, the Museum is a great meeting place and facility.
It was so great to get to know you better when we both returned to Montana at about the same time. So enjoyed the Powder River History stories and memories shared. Don and I extend our sympathy and condolences to your family, Lee. Don & Linda Nybakken
Wayne & Anita Wetherelt says
Our sympathy for all her family & friends. Tho I did not know her well, always enjoyed the smile & greeting, wherever we’d meet. She will be greatly missed at the Museum & around town, tho now no more pain & at peace at last.
Tracy Speelman says
Lee will always have a very special place in my heart. She loved my family and I unconditionally. We got to spend lots of holidays together playing cards, laughing and creating memories. She was always very interested in my children’s lives and took time to make sure they felt special. One thing my daughter, Mariah, will never forget is making little girls out of Holly Hocks. Her generous attitude and beaming personality will be missed by all. Such a loving individual!!
Gregory Minow says
The elaborate Christmas ornaments will always remind us of what a great lady she was! She will be missed.
Tammy Gnerer says
Lee was such a giving person. She made you feel right at home and always had a listening ear. She was a very special person. She will be missed greatly!!!!
Jon and Kathie Sheperd says
Our family has been friends with Lee since the late 1980s when she moved to Monterey. She was very close to my mother, Carrol, first and then Mom introduced her family and circle of friends to Lee. We all loved Lee for her kindness, generosity and love for others. Lee embodied what Jesus taught his disciples: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Lee actually loved more!! Life was better with Lee in our lives! She had been a wonderful friend for many years and very much treasured. We will all miss her and yet, we are very thankful to have known her. We offer our sincere condolences to Lee’s family and friends.
Lori Fortner says
What a glorious day in heaven when she entered the gates! So sorry for your loss but we are sad only that we will miss her but rejoice for she is with her savior.
Bill and Dina Gay says
Sending condolences to Lee’s family and friends. She was a treasure and will be missed.
Teresa Dorvall says
I am so glad I got to spend time with Lee at Thanksgiving. She always saw the positive in everything and went out of her way to make a person feel special. She truly is an inspiration and will be missed.
Carolyn and Lon Johnson says
Lee was a very special person, always giving to others especially when they were in need. She just had a sense of what to do at the right moment. Lee meant the world to my family and will be profoundly missed by my entire family and of course by the whole community. Her efforts to preserve the unique history of Powder River County will be realized in the years ahead. We are so much better for having had her touch our lives!
Bill and Jacob Janssen says
Myron, Jack, Doris and familes. My thoughts are with you in this time of loss. Lee is in a much better place now. She will be missed by many in this community.
Brigit Hemmer says
My deepest condolences to Lee’s family. She was a very kind person who I enjoyed getting to know while we were in Broadus. She looked out for others and had a good eye for beautiful art.
Pete Stabio says
Myron, Jack, Doris and families…I want to express my sorrow for your loss. Lee was a kind spirit and always had a smile and a sincere greeting. She lived a lot of life in her allotted years and touched many lives. She did good.
Gary Gautreau & Lidia Palma says
We met Ms Lee, when my husband and I went to work with Danbury with Performance. We rented the middle apartment from her, not knowing us only thru a phone call she had furnished the apartment for us with a bed and a sofa. Only good hearted people do things like that. She went the extra mile for estrangers. While living there we got to know her in a short amount of time and what an excellent lady she was we are going to missed her so
much. What a wonderful lady with a good heart. You will always be in our hearts. From Louisiana .