Obituary - Dorothy Gail (McLain) Rader

Dorothy Gail (McLain) Rader passed away of natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on the morning of Monday October 10th, 2022, at the age of 85.

Gail was born on January 21st, 1937, to Joseph Donald and Dorothy Elizabeth McLain and was the eldest of two daughters, Gwen Anderson being the younger sister. Born and raised in Havre, she attended Havre High School and later became a graduate of the University of Montana and earned a graduate degree in psychology from MSU-Northern. With her late husband, Dr. William Rader, they have championed numerous causes at MSU-Northern and within the Havre community.

Gail served for many years on the MSU-Northern Foundation Board of Directors. During her time there, she worked very hard to provide scholarship opportunities for MSU-Northern students and making a difference in the lives of countless young people. Likewise, her work at both the state and local level of P.E.O. International, provided many opportunities for even more MSU-Northern students.

Both she and Dr. Rader were active in all aspects of the Havre-Hill County Library, believing deeply in the power of literacy. Additionally, Gail has served on the Adult Literacy Board, worked as a tutor and is a past president of the PTA. Outside of education, Gail served her community on the Chamber of Commerce, the Hill County Bicentennial Commission, the Northern Montana Hospital Board of Directors, numerous real estate professional associations and the Havre/Hi-Line Community Concert Association. Most recently Gail received the MSU-Northern Founders' Excellence Award for her unwavering commitment to the students and faculty.

In 1979, Gail was inducted into Chapter V of The P.E.O. Sisterhood and later served as the chapter's president twice and then as the Montana P.E.O. state president. She was a self-proclaimed "PEO convention junkie" and attended hundreds of the annual conventions, usually with her late husband. Gail was also a mentor for new members and could answer any question about anything P.E.O. Additionally, she was a member of their Art and Beautification committee.

Gail has earned the Order of Merit from the Boy Scouts of America and was active in Troop 431, while guiding her two Eagle Scout sons. Along with Troop 431, she petitioned the state scouting officials to become the state's first female scoutmaster, however that effort was unsuccessful. This did help pave the way for female Scout masters today, which is the case with her grandson's troop in San Francisco. She also served two years as the chair of the Havre City Study Commission. She remained active and held numerous positions with the Havre Jaycee's, the Hill County Republican Central Committee, the North Central Pachyderm Club, and the Havre Mainstreet Downtown Revitalization Committee.

An avid cook and baker, Gail, at a young age, won the Betty Crocker Homemaker award and was famous among friends and family for her holiday dinners and her exceptional potato salad. One of the favorite childhood memories of her granddaughter Emilie was waking up on Christmas morning to breakfast and being read fairytales before bed. She says she'll always miss her hugs and kisses and writing letters to her. Her grandson Arden fondly remembers his grandma reading books about different colors when he was only a toddler and taking him to buy fireworks for the Fourth of July. Arden also received Grama's party mix regularly. Her daughter-in-law, Stephanie says, "Grandma never met a shopping department she didn't like" and said many times how much she loved her grandchildren.

Gail's favorite times were spent with family making birthdays, holidays and annual trips to Big Mountain between Christmas and New Year's always memorable. One of her son Jeff's favorite memories was celebrating the new year at the top of Big Mountain ski hill surrounded by family with a cold glass of champagne. Gail and Bill traveled the world and, more recently, she sponsored three cruise ship adventures with her family, creating indelible memories for her grand kids. A huge fan of the opera and forever the optimist, she had planned a trip to see "La Traviata" in San Francisco this coming Thanksgiving. Her granddaughter Lucca says that she was the epitome of class and will always be remembered as someone with exquisite taste and style. Lawson, the youngest grandchild, always enjoyed joining grandma for early morning snuggles, albeit sometimes exceptionally early. She was also active in her sons' interests, which included attending their sporting events. Jonathan, her younger son, recalls a long road trip to Boulder, Colorado, in the early '80s, affording himself and two of his skate buddies to ride a new skateboard park that they had been begging to ride.

She is survived by her two sons, Jeffrey Rader (Stephanie Rader), grandchildren, Emilie and Arden in San Francisco, and Jonathan Rader, grandchildren, Lucca and Lawson in Seattle, and her younger sister, Gwen Anderson of Bozeman, nephew, Jim Anderson, and great-grandniece, Nicole Anderson, also of Bozeman.

A memorial service will be held at St. Jude's Parish Center Saturday, November 12, at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate Gail's life. All are welcome to attend and share memories with friends and family. Snacks and drinks will be served following the event.

Cremation has taken place.

Memorial donations may be made in Gail's memory to the Dr. W.A. and Gail Rader Scholarship Endowment Fund c/o MSU-Northern Foundation, PO Box 1691, Havre, MT 59501, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Gail's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .