Mae Ertman, age 100, of Lewistown, MT passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025. Mae was born in Forsyth, MT on May 15, 1924, the fourth of six children, two brothers, and three sisters. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Carl Ertman of Forsyth, and Paul Ertman of Forsyth; sister, Ruth Leemhuis of Forsyth, Fern Leemhuis of Nampa, ID, and Helen Cady of Spokane, WA.
Mae graduated from Forsyth High School in 1942 and immediately after graduation was employed as a stenographer by a lawyer and mayor of the City of Forsyth until November 1943. She then moved to the Los Angeles, CA area and became a stenographer-bookkeeper with the US Navy and Air Force, spending 15 years in Civil Service.
She worked in the personnel and payroll divisions of the Navy, which handled 2900 checks a month. In the Air Force, she was chief of Passenger and Household Goods in the Transportation division.
When the military installations deactivated after World War II, she found work in private industry. Along the way, good experience was obtained in a household moving van company (in charge of sea vans, and a teletype operator); an oil refinery (production clerk) and an iron casting foundry (handling quotations and pricing).
After thirty-six years residing in Los Angeles, she decided to return to Forsyth, MT in 1979 where she found employment with the Rosebud County Road Department.
Mae retired in 1988 and to keep busy volunteered with the American Cancer Society as Crusade and Rehabilitation Services Chairman in Forsyth and the Surrounding communities. She was also a certified tutor with the Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. Her hobby was oil painting, and she was self-taught on the Hammond organ.
In February of 1996, she moved to Lewistown, MT residing at the Esplanade Eagle condominiums and lived there until 2013 when she moved into the Villa at Valle Vista, also in Lewistown. She resided there until her death.
Mae is survived by a niece, Karen Magee of Spokane, WA; two nephews, Brian Ertman of Nampa, ID, and John Leemhuis of Forsyth, MT.
Kay Berdahl says
Karen, Brian and John, sorry for the loss of your Aunt Mae. So close to Helen’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Linda Estes says
To Mae’s family. So sorry to see this. She and her sister are together again. I used to be their hairdresser when they lived in Lewistown. Wonderful ladies.
Cheryl Jenni says
Mae was a lovely person. My sister Kathie and I made friends with her while our parents lived at the Villa and continued visiting with Mae after they passed. We most recently visited just last Christmas and found her still witty and engaged in life, wishing someone would fill her bird feeder. We will miss her joyful presence.