Mary Bovee

Visitation:will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Funeral service: will be held on Friday, April 22, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Burial: will follow in the Eastern Montana Veteran's Cemetery.

Mary Irene (Williams) Bovee passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care, joining her husband in Heaven on their 69th wedding anniversary.

Mary was born in Sidney, Montana to Richard and Nettie (Herbert) on September 10, 1922. She was the oldest of 8 children. She graduated from Sidney High School in 1941. Her family then moved to Miles City where she met Truman Bovee at a dance. They were married on April 18, 1942, and three weeks later Truman left for the war. Mary moved to the Tacoma, Washington area with her parents and worked in the shipyards, later returning to Miles City in the summer of 1944. Truman returned home in September of 1945.Truman and Mary purchased their family home in the spring of 1953 at 905 Washington. They raised six children, and Mary was very proud of her children and their accomplishments. She was a housewife until the youngest of the children started school. Mary was a cashier at Buttreys for ten years. She was a wonderful cook and her family loved to eat! She hand-made many of her childrens clothes, as well as clothes for customers, including many wedding dresses and western wear on an old treadle sewing machine. She also enjoyed crocheting and won ribbons at the fair. She collected many souvenir plates over the years, and would buy them on vacations or the many camping trips with Dad. She also received many from friends and family and had over 200 displayed in her home. She enjoyed playing cards with friends and the grandchildren. She was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary, serving as a treasurer for more than 20 years.

Mary is survived by her sons, Richard (Marilene) of Spring Creek, NV, Truman (Judy) of Miles City, and William of Helena; her daughters, Mary Rose and Pam, both of Miles City; four grandchildren, Josh (Erin) of Lees Summit, MO, Alisha (Ray) Belmontez of Shepherd, Christopher (Danielle) of Bozeman, and Elizabeth (fianc Jeff Wilson) of Forsyth; five great-grandchildren, Emily, Evan, Ryan Belmontez, Blake Wilson, and Abigail Bovee; two sisters, Joann Lelli and Sharon (Gary) LaVelle, both of Washington State; a sister-in-law, Ruby Annalora of Miles City; a brother-in-law, Robert (Dorothy) Bovee of East Helena; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years in January of 2002, her daughter Sharine in February of 2009, and her parents, in-laws, two sisters, and three brothers.

The family would like to thank the staff of Holy Rosary Extended Care unit for the quality of care Mary received over the last five years: everyone from the nurses, aides, kitchen, activities, and cleaning staff, especially the staff of the north hall.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 22, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Burial will follow in the Eastern Montana Veteran's Cemetery. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com .Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Holy Rosary Extended Care Unit Activities Department or a charity of one's choice.