Mary Whitney

Visitation: Thursday, January 25, 2007 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral Service: Friday, January 26, 2007at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Interment: will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City

Mary Whitney, age 82, of Miles City passed away on Monday, January 22, 2007 surrounded by loving family at her home in Miles City.

Mary was the next to last of seven children born to J.D. and Lulu (Rifenberick) Strait in Plevna, MT on December 12, 1924. Mary attended the TeeDee grade school on Fallon Creek northwest of Ekalaka, MT and attended High School in Ekalaka. After her schooling, she married Earl Whitney on April 1, 1942 in Miles City, MT. They worked on ranches before moving to Hondo, TX where Earl was stationed with the Air Force during WWII. After his discharge they returned to Montana and worked on various ranches in the Carter and Powder River County area. They finally settled on the Mose Mireau Ranch which they purchased in 1970. In 1989, they moved to Miles City where she has remained ever since.

Mary was Worthy Matron several times at Harmony Chapter 127 in Ekalaka and at Custer Chapter 25 in Miles City. She was selected twice as Grand Officer for Montana Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star and was also Bath Zabbia Temple 21 Daughters of the Niles in Billings where she served twice as an officer. She was also a member of Royal Neighbors of America and served as District Deputy. Mary enjoyed crosswords, playing cards, dancing, sewing, and crocheting. She was active in Sorrel Horse Patrol in Ekalaka. Most of all Mary loved spending time visiting with family and friends and having Christmas dinner with family at the ranch.

Mary is survived by two sons: Joe Whitney and his wife Cheryl of Fallon, MT; Dwayne Whitney and his wife Sheryl of Miles City, MT; three daughters: Janet Barnhart and her husband Harold of Billings, MT; Hazel Hendricks and her husband Jed of Gillette, WY; and Marilyn Schultz and her husband Kenny of Ekalaka, MT; A sister Leota Elmore of Ekalaka, MT, eleven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, four step-great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and six step-great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Earl in 2000 and her grandson, Jayson, three brothers: Francis, Marion and James, and two sisters: Bessie Strait and Marjorie Cline.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Transportation Fund of the Al Beddo Shrine, P.O. Box 454, Miles City, MT. 59301 or to the charity of one's choice.