Dorothy “Dot” Stewart joined God and her husband of 41 years, Roland Stewart, in heaven on April 8, 2019. Her concept of heaven was her childhood ranch in Pollock, Idaho. We believe she and Dad are there today with her parents, aunts and cousins.
Dot was born on May 10, 1927 in Weiser, Idaho to Edgar and Alice Dean. She had many stories about life on the ranch. After her father suffered heart disease, the ranch was sold and traded for a home in Boise, Idaho. Dot attended Lynx Business College and began working with Civil Aeronautics Administration. She applied for a transfer to Helena, Montana and moved in 1951 where she met her husband Roland Stewart. They were married on December 23, 1951 and had four children.
Dot was cub scout den mother, girl scout leader and 4-H leader for her children. She was always ready to go camping, fishing, 4-wheeling, hiking, or just for a walk. If she heard music her feet would start dancing. Any family birthday, holiday or visit was reason to host a dinner with everyone invited. Although Dot loved visiting, she was not a person to sit for very long. She was a member of Eastern Star and Nile for over 40 years, and a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church. After raising her children, Dot returned to work as Secretary for the Masonic Home Board. Dot resigned to care for her ailing husband. After his passing, she returned to work setting up greeting card displays in many of the Helena stores. Dot worked every day until age 87 when she resigned to recover from an illness.
Dot is survived by her four children Bruce (Carol) Stewart of Helena, Deana (Jim) Beneventi of Norman, Oklahoma, Lorie (Bill) Smith of Shelby, and Joan (Garry) Stocker of Helena; ten grandchildren, Diana Stewart, Robert Stewart, Steven Beneventi, Kyle Beneventi, Jamie Longgood, Daniel Smith, Jodie Hirsch, Garry Stocker, Mike Stocker and Chris Stocker; ten great grandchildren; and two great great grandsons. She is also survived by a sister-in-law and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Dot is preceded in death by her husband, parents, great-grand daughter, daughter-in-law, aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family would like to thank Jeff and Dori Humpfrey and staff of Beehive Homes and Hunters Point administration and staff for their loving care of mom and St. Peter’s Hospice for all the wonderful care. We would like to thank Marie Lavinder for caring for Mom and providing family support.
Celebration of life will be on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church, 535 North Ewing Avenue, Helena, Montana at 2:30 p.m. Reception to follow.
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Charlene and Mike Smith says
Charlene and Mike Smith purchased the Arrive in Style for the family of Dorothy Stewart.
Michael Smith says
Dot, we will never forget the Alaska Cruise. You traveled in style, and almost with someone else’s luggage. Many good memories. We are sending your favorite photo with you.
Leona Zaharko says
I worked at a store where Dot worked the reading glasses. She was always a delight when she would come in to work. Always friendly and very pleasant. My sincerest sympathy to her family
deb stansberry says
Dot was a very pleasant and fun lady……I remember her and roland coming out to the ranch with Uncle Howard and Aunt Rae to go fishing. Even just going fishing, Dot was always dressed up and hair was perfect. She was one amazing little lady. My heart goes out to her family, Love you all, Deb
Anonymous says
Medium Dish Garden was purchased for the family of Dorothy Stewart.
Anonymous says
Divine Peace Bouquet was purchased for the family of Dorothy Stewart.
Anonymous says
Arrive in Style was purchased for the family of Dorothy Stewart.
Big Sky Cremation & Twitchell Funeral Se rvice says
60 files added to the album LifeTributes
Diane Boley says
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Dot! I knew Dot through Daughters of the Nile! I am going to miss her ready smile and quick wit! Rest in Peace, my friend! Diane Boley, PQ, Sapphira Temple No. 79
Vickie Rauser says
Dorothy was always such a joy to be around. I knew her through Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile. She and Maxine Treadway were an awesome duo in the Patrol and both so supportive in a variety of ways. I will miss Dorothy’s energy, ready smile and “get ‘er done” attitude. Holding friends and family in prayer.
Deana M Beneventi says
Page 2 of 2 Children’s Memories
She loved her cat Callie. She told us Callie never talked back.
Speaking of talking back, let’s start with – I was a spirited child. My siblings remember mom saying – ‘That child will be the death of me yet.†As a child Lorie always wondered – how did she know and why didn’t she do something about it? Every time I came back for the last couple of years, within a day or two of my landing, something happened with mom. (Moving, selling car and house and you’ll have to ask about the earwax fiasco in December.) This time I came into town because Mom had taken a fall and broken a rib, and within hours of my landing, Mom was back in the hospital. Mom, it seems your right again.
Mom belonged to Miriam Chapter of Eastern Star and Saphira Temple of the Daughters of the Nile for many years. During this time she held many different positions, including Worthy Matron of Eastern Star. Life for the family during her Worthy Matron tenure included getting projects completed – by next Tuesday. Well Mom we made your funeral by next Tuesday. She made many friends and life long memories.
For the last two years Mom had lived at the two most amazing places. She moved from her home to Aspen Gardens which is now known as Bee Hive Homes. Marjorie Smith from Rocky Mountain Development would take Mom to the Senior Citizens center once a week. Mom then moved to Hunters Pointe where Marie Lavinder helped Mom, and us, to navigate daily life. We would like to thank both for their dedication. Both Bee Hive Homes and Hunters Pointe loved and cared for Mom. Their staffs are top notch. There aren’t enough thank you’s or compliments to describe our positive experiences.
Mom had two precious friends that actively stayed in contact until the day mom passed. Colleen Street loved and cared for Mom as a neighbor on Villard. Well into Mom’s 80’s Joan would get a call – “your mom is on the ladder again pick apples. Don’t let her know who called you.†Colleen gifted her mother’s Eastern Star Ring to Mom. We have passed that ring to our dear honorary sister, Karen Lorenz. Karen loved Mom and dubbed her “My foxy friend.â€
Mom has belonged to the First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years. Mom and Dad were married in this church. Family marriages, baptisms and funerals have been held in this very chapel. Even though she wasn’t able to attend in her later years, mom always identified as a member of this church.
Our family would like to thank everyone here for honoring mom with your love.
Deana M Beneventi says
Page 1 of 2 Children’s memories read by Deana:
Let’s start with a bit of Mom’s history. First thing – Mom was a spirited child to say the least. That spirit held through adulthood. She was described as a pocket-sized atom bomb.
In case you haven’t heard, Mom was raised on a ranch in Idaho. She loved telling her ranch stories to anyone who would listen
Mom loved feeding people. If you honored mom with food this morning, you ate breakfast. At Mom’s house breakfast was a requirement. Holidays, birthdays or any event was a reason for Mom to prepare a feast with everyone expected. Happy or sad, you got food. She would insist on large portions and second helpings, and then mention those extra pounds someone may have put on. The guaranteed way to ensure getting your favorite desert was to mention you were on a diet. Mom was known for her fantastic angel food cakes. No sandwich was complete without her favorite ingredients of butter and miracle whip. Meat was an option.
Lorie’s memories include the fun we had as children on weekends at Columbia Gardens. Mom would pack a picnic and we would ride the rides. Lorie remembers the biggest holiday was Christmas. Adults, kids, friends and pets were all invited and all showed up. Mom insisted on buying for everyone; and I mean everyone got a gift. Gifts covered the living room floor. The smell of turkey and pumpkin pie met you at the door. It was fun. It was loud. It was hectic. It was standing room only. The perfect description given was that if you left without a headache, you didn’t do it right.
Mom lived for camping and fishing and reveled in the work involved. Tent, food and supplies strapped to the top of the station wagon, with Mom, Dad, four kids and a Golden Retriever in the car. She could make a gourmet dinner over a campfire. It was a major compromise to buy a camper with a stove, but that was the only way Dad could continue camping. Mom instilled a love of the outdoors in almost all of her children – Hey, I was always the exception. That fear of nature was passed to our niece Jamie. We will compromise though, as long as nights include indoor plumbing.
Bruce remembers one camping trip in Atlanta, Idaho with mom’s cousin Dick. We rented a cabin by a stream and had a wonderful week. On another occasion, Mom was a crack shot. It was so cold. Dad, Bruce, and our cousin T.J. were shooting cans, while Mom and we girls were waiting in the car. The guys weren’t doing so great. Bruce’s description was that the guys were so cold they couldn’t hit anything. Mom was over it and ready to leave. She got out of the car, grabbed a gun, and shot every can. She turned to the guys and said “now, we’re going home.â€
Joan’s favorite time with Mom was fishing trips down the Smith River. During one of those trips it was raining and miserable for everyone, except mom. The raft was bouncing over the rapids and Mom had hung her pole over the side with the line dragging. Somehow a fish managed to find her line and bite. She caught the only fish of a week-long trip without even trying.
Her love of the outdoors included four wheeling and snow mobiling. She was up for just about anything. The family went four wheeling on her 90th birthday, and please watch the video as you will see her on the last two pictures enjoying motor cycle rides at 91.
I remember Mom playing her guitar and singing “Lay that pistol down ma, Lay that pistol down, pistol packing mama, oh lay that pistol down.†If mom heard music her feet would dance. As hard as it was to see mom in the hospital that last day, I’ll always remember that even with morphine in her system her little foot started tapping and her little shoulders barely moved in time when we played- lay that pistol down.
Big Sky Cremation & Twitchell Funeral Se rvice says
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Deana M Beneventi says
From birth until having fun on a motor cycle at age 91. Love you Mom.
Diana Stewart says
This was just beautiful and so on spot with grandma. She was an amazing go getter and full of spunk. I loved my grandma very much.