Rosa May Billing

Visitation: Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Jordan.

Funeral Service: Monday, October 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Jordan.

Graveside Service: Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan.

Rosa May Billing, age 97, of Jordan passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care in Miles City.

Rosa was born in Blaine, Montana on May 17, 1912, the daughter of Arthur and Katie (Mailey) Marklay. She attended grade school and graduated from Garfield County High School. In 1930, she went to Normal School for two years, returning to Jordan where she worked for the selective service. She married John William Billing on July 18, 1946at the Presbyterian Church in Miles City. Following their marriage, they herded sheep and lived in a sheep wagon until they moved to the home place on the Big Dry where they farmed and ranched and also owned and operated Kamp Katie until the time of her death.

Music was the love of May's life. She could play any instrument that she decided to. May along with her husband Bill and other family members, played for many dances. Up until a few days before she went to the nursing home she was still playing the piano. The nurses remembered her as the "little lady that could really play piano". May and Bill enjoyed their retirement years attending jam sessions throughout the state.

May also loved anything to do with history. She loved the Missouri Breaks before Fort Peck and spent many days riding there. She loved to hike and could sometimes out walk people half her age. This past summer she still loved nothing better than going for a walk.She was member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Montana Fiddlers.

Rosa is survived by her son, Bucky (Sharon) Billing of Broadus, MT; two daughters: Teena (Glen) Bollinger of Jordan, MT; and Gay (Ross) Miller of Miles City, MT; a niece, Linda (Pat) Hallock of Lake Elmo, MN; eight grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John Bill Billing, a son at infancy, and four brothers: Arlie, Jimmy, Hammer and Harley.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Jordan. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the VFW Hall in Jordan. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Jordan Ambulance and VFW Hall in Jordan.