Martha Peila

Visitation & Rosary: Monday, April 5, 2010 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, with a Rosary Prayer Service starting at 6:00 pm.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Please wear colorful attire, as we will joyfully celebrate her life and her birthday on this day.

Interment: will follow in the family lot of the Calvary Cemetery.

Martha Jane Peila, age 83, of Miles City passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at Holy Rosary Health Care in Miles City surrounded by family.

Martha was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma on April 6, 1926, the daughter of Eugene and Doris (Rexroad) Sutton. She was born at home but did not have a birth certificate as the doctor who delivered her was killed in an auto accident on his way home and the birth was never registered. She grew up and attended schools in Oklahoma, Chicago, Wyoming and Colorado. She graduated from high school in Denver in 1944 and then attended college at the University of Denver for two years. While in school, she worked in her spare time as an usherette in Denver at Broadway Theatre. In 1942, Martha met Joe Peila and they were married in 1946 at St. Francis DeSalles Church in Denver. Following their marriage they ranched in Akron, CO for four or five years and then purchased a ranch in Alturasin northern California.

In 1954, they moved to Miles City and ranched north of Miles City for many years.Martha was artistic and especially loved doing water colors. She worked and volunteered at the Custer County Art Center for many years; frequently teaching art classes for kids in the summer. She was a long time member of Sacred Heart Parish. Martha loved to sew and was an excellent cook. Summer picnics in the yard included various family members, friends and neighbors and anyone who happened to drop by. There was always room for one more at the table or in the house if someone just needed a place to stay for awhile. Her compassionate heart and generous nature gave her a reputation of showing hospitality for one and all.

Martha loved all of her grandchildren and especially loved all babies. In her later years, her favorite shows were those with little children or new babies. Nothing made her light up more than to have one of the babies around. She was a special lady who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Martha is survived by four sons: Jeff (Susie) Peila of Shepherd, MT; Joe (Cathi) Peila of Miles City; Matt Peila and Sam (Gretchen) Peila also of Shepherd; four daughters: Julie (Perry) Gee of Redding, CA; Lucy (Jeff) Bragg of Waynesboro, VA; Barbara (Craig) Frohlich of Billings, MT; and Sallie (Gene) Small of Lame Deer, MT; twenty-six grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; other close family members Jack and Theresa Peila of Burns, OR, Catherine and (Ray) Topper Tracy of Stevensville, MT, and Nick and Sharon Massarro of Parachute, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe and a brother, John Jacobson.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, with a Rosary Prayer Service starting at 6:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Please wear colorful attire, as we will joyfully celebrate her life and her birthday on this day. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Calvary Cemetery. Condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.