ROSELLA DEBRAY obituary

HELENA - Rosella Marie DeBray (Putra), 99, of Helena died Sunday evening, March 12, 2006, with family members present.

A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Hagler-Anderson Chapel in Helena. An interment service will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Rosella was born June 3, 1906, at Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains to Francis and Amelia Schwartz. She worked on the family ranch until she married Exoria Putra who preceded her in death in 1948.

She moved to Helena and married William DeBray in 1961 and enjoyed many years of playing Rummy, fishing, camping and berry picking with him until he died in 2002. The family referred to her as “Rambling Rose.” Every time someone was going out of town, she made sure she was ready. It didn't matter where she was going she was just happy to be going somewhere.

Rosella worked for St. Peter's Hospital for 20 years and retired in 1970. She always enjoyed people visiting and had a meal prepared for anyone who stopped by. She prepared a meal every Sunday and all family members were expected to be there. She made crazy quilts for her family to keep them warm on cold nights and passed this craft onto her granddaughters and greatgranddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters; son, Theodore Wooden Thigh; son-in-law, Francis Griffin; great-grandson, Aaron Magnuson; and great-granddaughter, Shandi Rae Griffin.

Survivors include her daughter, Frances M. Griffin of Salem, Ore.; son, Theodore 0. Putra of Helena, 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other extended-family members.

The family requests that donations be made to the donor's choice in Rosella's honor.