Myrtle “Sweety” May, age 87, of Biddle passed away on Friday, May 12, 2017 at her home in Biddle.
Our Mother was in the process of writing the story of her life which she titled “Bits and Pieces of My Life.” This is the first paragraph:
“I was born at the ranch owned by my mother and father, Eathel Laura (Hulford) Smith and Frank Lafayette Smith of Olive, Montana on July 20, 1929. My sister Sis (Mildred Smith Steadman) was 14 years old and since Dad was gone she had to ride to the Sam Smith place about 2 miles from home to bring Aunt Myrtle Smith to be the mid-wife. When Sis went to the corral to saddle up “Old Daddy”, who was a snow white horse, he was lying flat in the corral. Since it was a very moonlight night, she immediately thought he was dead. But, she went on in the corral and “Old Daddy” was just taking a well-deserved nap! She saddled him up and rode to get Aunt Myrtle and then the great event of Myrtle Eathel Smith coming into this world began. Dad finally came and somehow Dr. James showed up on the scene, at least to sign a record of birth. So life began for me! It was the year of the infamous stock market crash and the start of a lot of really hard times for my family. Boy, I’ll bet they were pleased to have another mouth to feed!”
She was nicknamed “Sweety” when she was very young and it stuck with her all her life. She loved helping her father on the ranch and would skip school if at all possible to help him. Sweety attended grade school at the Sam Smith School and also in Broadus and continued on to high school in Broadus, then a couple years in Miles City where she worked after school long hours waiting tables. She would have graduated at the age of 16 but stayed out a couple years to help at home and then returned to Broadus to graduate in 1947. Later in life she took correspondence courses for bookkeeping and accounting as she loved both of these. She worked throughout her life at several different jobs: US Postal Service in the 50’s and again in the 80’s-90’s, at Miles City Steam Laundry where she made many friends, at Broadus Meats for Terry and Sherry Considine and truly enjoyed the camaraderie with everyone there, and her favorite, as she loved working with children, as a teachers aide and substitute teacher at Biddle School and the Belle Creek Elementary schools. Mom loved the computer and it was her idea to have a desktop publishing business which she and Cindy did for quite a few years. She paid her bills on-line a few days ago!
Sweety and Glen May were married March 24, 1952. From that time on, Mom spent her time being the best Mother possible raising us children, always raised a garden, chickens, loved her yard and flower gardens, and liked to help our Dad irrigate by changing the canvasses in the laterals. She loved sewing and in later years making quilts, dolls, placemats and helping the kids learn to sew. Most of all she loved keeping the grandchildren and in these later years the great-grandchildren. She always kept in touch with her siblings and their off-spring and loved them all very much. Mom was very family oriented and certainly the core of our family.
Sweety is survived by her children: Cathy (Ted) Elgin of Biddle, MT and their children Tedi Jo (Ray) Williams, Cassy (Terry Patterson) Biesheuvel and John (Kristy) Elgin; Glenda Flint of Weston, WY and her children Rhett (Jaycie Burch) Flint, Gavin (Jamie) Flint and Gerrad “Zig” Flint; Cindy May of Biddle, MT; seven great grandchildren; and Ben Steadman of Biddle, MT. (Ben lived with Sweety for many years after his folks passed away and became part of the family. It was his mother who went to get the mid-wife!) She was preceded in death by her husband Glen May, grandson Rich Flint, her parents, five sisters and one brother: Florence Mae Smith, Mildred (Sis) Adelle Steadman, Nell Ilee Popp, Agatha (Baye) Alma Schoonover, Giles (Jive) Lafayette Smith, Zelma Smith. (Florence and Zelma both lived only a short time)
Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 19, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Broadus is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the PT Department at Powder River Manor. (Mom was very appreciative of the wonderful care and the great people at the Manor during her stays there.)
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday May 18, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday May 19, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday May 18, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday May 19, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
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Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Condolences to the May family, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Laura Lee Ullrich says
Thinking of you all Cathy, Glenda, Cindy and your families as well as Benny and all of the others. She was the most appropriately named person I knew. Her dedication to her family and her unbridled love for her grandchildren certainly was noticable to all who knew her. Her legacy is her family who carry the same generous and loving traits. Our deepest sympathy. Hugs and prayers.
tammy & john schoenbeck says
i am going to miss you soooo much Aunt Myrtle!!!!
Tvedt Family says
We are so very sorry for the loss of Sweetie. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jason and Hattie Arithson says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Sweetie was an amazing lady that will be missed greatly
Larry and Blondie Woolston says
Prayers and Condolences to your Families
Mark and Neen says
May Sweetie rest in heavenly peace. You are all in our hearts and prayers.
Elna Miller says
Heaven gained another angel. My deepest condolences to my cousins, Cathy, Glenda and Cindy and your families. She had a good life and, for the most part, good health to be able to live that life on her terms. That’s important. Every memory will bring a smile and a warm feeling to you all and to everyone whose life she touched. Love you all
Todd, Nicole, Griffin, Mariah says
I have so many fond memories of her during my school days at biddle. She truly was the sweetest lady. I was always excited when I would get to do my school work at her table or in her little side office . The best days were when the teachers were gone and she was the substitute teacher all day. It felt like I had a third grandma during that time. We are thinking of your family !
Grant and Mary Olson and family says
So sorry for your loss all of you are in our thought and Prayers
Dave and Lisa Tescher says
Our thoughts and prayers for your family. Such a grand lady. Such love she had for her family.
Dan & Sheri Gali says
So sorry to hear of Sweety’s passing . She was always so happy and had that spark in her eyes ! She will be missed. RIP Sweety. Hugs to all the family.
William Collins says
Condolences on the passing of Sweetie! Thoughts and prayers to you and your families!
Sharla and Bob Sackman says
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Sweety was such a kind and genuine lady. What a wonderful example she was for us all.
Aletta & Randy Shannon says
Sweety will always hold a Special place in my heart. She was a SWEETHEART, indeed! All of Sweety’s family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Karen Gunther says
My prayers are with all of her family you have so many memories to remember.
Charlotte Miller says
I remember lots of fun times at Biddle school with Sweetie, Zeda, Joanie and Stacey. The students loved her. My sympathy to all of you, she will be missed.
Pam and Dave says
Our prayers for comfort for all of you~ She was such a dear, and I always enjoyed a visit with her, the most recent was a few months back when she was getting ready to go home from the Manor~ She was thrilled to be going home!
Our love to all of you, we care!!!
Dennis and Bonnie Lyda says
Thinking of you at this sad time…Sending our hugs and prayers
Janet beckman says
My prayers and love sent to you all. Love Janet (teller)
Oralei Hoffman says
Thinking of you today, Glenda and Family.
Sharilyn Harvey says
So sorry to hear of Sweety’s passing. She was always so kind. I enjoyed getting to know her. RIP Sweety.
Mary and Darwin Tvedt says
Cindy, Tedi Jo and all — Thinking of you all. Sorry to hear of Sweetie’s passing.