Julia (Judy) Raser of Stevensville passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2003, at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center in Hamilton.
She was born in Manhattan, Montana, on January 18, 1915 to Len and Emma (Hammersma) Verwolf, who were both immigrants from Holland. Judy grew up on a farm with eight sisters and two brothers, and she considered that the "good life." She learned to milk cows and work in the hay fields at an early age, and even though she worked hard, she always consider that time in her life as fun too.
Judy married James "Happy" Backus in 1935. Judy and Hap had two daughters, Leota and Ardith. They lived in Colorado for about a year, but Judy missed her Montana, so they moved back. In 1947, Hap was injured in an accident that left him paralyzed. He passed away in 1953. After Hap's death, Judy went to work at the Kessler Dairy in Bozeman. She loved that job because she got to meet the public and scoop ice cream all day!
In 1956, Judy and her girls moved to Missoula. She worked in a café for a short time, but considered herself a poor waitress. She then became a checker in grocery stores. She had the honor of receiving "Checker of the Year" for the state of Montana in 1963.
Later in 1963 she felt she needed a change, so she went to work on a ranch in Greenough. She worked at the Morris ranch and then the Lindbergh ranch. She worked in the house cooking and cleaning, but also did outside work when an extra hand was needed. She liked the outside work the best. She also enjoyed going fishing during those years. In 1965 Judy bought a two-year old horse and broke him to ride. She was very proud of that accomplishment. Those years were not work but fun. More of the "good life."
Judy moved back to Missoula in 1968 and worked in a bakery. During this time period she enjoyed bowling, her family and friends. In 1969, she met and married Jess Raser. She acquired four more children and their spouses, all of whom became very dear to her. Jess and Judy had lots of good times, riding horses and trucking cattle. They went on the Chief Joseph Trail ride in 1970 and 1973. Those times were very precious memories. Jess passed away in 1977. Judy moved to Corvallis where she continued to go on trail rides with friends and also worked in the school lunch room.
She lived a year in Townsend, with her younger sister. She then moved to Stevensville where she lived for 13 years. She kept busy with crafts, making greeting cards, taking care of flower gardens, visiting with friends and family and attending church. She especially loved the Verwolf family reunions held every two years. In February of 2002, Judy moved back to Corvallis to live with her daughter, Leota. In February 2003 she moved to the hospice center in Hamilton.
She was also preceded in death by a stepson, Vic Raser.
Survivors include her daughters, Leota (Richard) Sorenson of Corvallis and Ardith (Alex) Jackson of Stevensville; two sisters, Helen Holderby of Walla Walla, Washington, and Betty Jean Julian of Manhattan and one brother, Barney Verwolf of Stevensville. Also surviving are her six grandchildren, Lorinda Mapp, Jody and Doug Maurer, Chris and Cori Jackson, Cathy and Glen Pomeroy, Dan Sorenson, and Tracie and Eric Lutzenhiser; 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving in the Raser family are stepson, Lyle and Charlotte Raser of Ft. Collins, Colorado; stepdaughters Donna and (LeMoyne) Brown of Denver and Verla Nabity of Nebraska; 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Judy's family would like to thank Dr. Crews and the staff at the Marcus Daly Hospice Center for their wonderful and loving care; they became like family. Thank you also to our pastors and friends at the Lone Rock Bible Church who were always there for support, love and prayers.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, December 18, at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville at 1 p.m. with pastors Jim Carlson and Steve Lockrem officiating. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville. A reception will follow at the Jesus Community Church in Stevensville.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840.
She was born in Manhattan, Montana, on January 18, 1915 to Len and Emma (Hammersma) Verwolf, who were both immigrants from Holland. Judy grew up on a farm with eight sisters and two brothers, and she considered that the "good life." She learned to milk cows and work in the hay fields at an early age, and even though she worked hard, she always consider that time in her life as fun too.
Judy married James "Happy" Backus in 1935. Judy and Hap had two daughters, Leota and Ardith. They lived in Colorado for about a year, but Judy missed her Montana, so they moved back. In 1947, Hap was injured in an accident that left him paralyzed. He passed away in 1953. After Hap's death, Judy went to work at the Kessler Dairy in Bozeman. She loved that job because she got to meet the public and scoop ice cream all day!
In 1956, Judy and her girls moved to Missoula. She worked in a café for a short time, but considered herself a poor waitress. She then became a checker in grocery stores. She had the honor of receiving "Checker of the Year" for the state of Montana in 1963.
Later in 1963 she felt she needed a change, so she went to work on a ranch in Greenough. She worked at the Morris ranch and then the Lindbergh ranch. She worked in the house cooking and cleaning, but also did outside work when an extra hand was needed. She liked the outside work the best. She also enjoyed going fishing during those years. In 1965 Judy bought a two-year old horse and broke him to ride. She was very proud of that accomplishment. Those years were not work but fun. More of the "good life."
Judy moved back to Missoula in 1968 and worked in a bakery. During this time period she enjoyed bowling, her family and friends. In 1969, she met and married Jess Raser. She acquired four more children and their spouses, all of whom became very dear to her. Jess and Judy had lots of good times, riding horses and trucking cattle. They went on the Chief Joseph Trail ride in 1970 and 1973. Those times were very precious memories. Jess passed away in 1977. Judy moved to Corvallis where she continued to go on trail rides with friends and also worked in the school lunch room.
She lived a year in Townsend, with her younger sister. She then moved to Stevensville where she lived for 13 years. She kept busy with crafts, making greeting cards, taking care of flower gardens, visiting with friends and family and attending church. She especially loved the Verwolf family reunions held every two years. In February of 2002, Judy moved back to Corvallis to live with her daughter, Leota. In February 2003 she moved to the hospice center in Hamilton.
She was also preceded in death by a stepson, Vic Raser.
Survivors include her daughters, Leota (Richard) Sorenson of Corvallis and Ardith (Alex) Jackson of Stevensville; two sisters, Helen Holderby of Walla Walla, Washington, and Betty Jean Julian of Manhattan and one brother, Barney Verwolf of Stevensville. Also surviving are her six grandchildren, Lorinda Mapp, Jody and Doug Maurer, Chris and Cori Jackson, Cathy and Glen Pomeroy, Dan Sorenson, and Tracie and Eric Lutzenhiser; 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving in the Raser family are stepson, Lyle and Charlotte Raser of Ft. Collins, Colorado; stepdaughters Donna and (LeMoyne) Brown of Denver and Verla Nabity of Nebraska; 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Judy's family would like to thank Dr. Crews and the staff at the Marcus Daly Hospice Center for their wonderful and loving care; they became like family. Thank you also to our pastors and friends at the Lone Rock Bible Church who were always there for support, love and prayers.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, December 18, at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville at 1 p.m. with pastors Jim Carlson and Steve Lockrem officiating. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville. A reception will follow at the Jesus Community Church in Stevensville.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840.
Julia (Judy) Raser of Stevensville passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2003, at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center in Hamilton.
She was born in Manhattan, Montana, on January 18, 1915 to Len and Emma (Hammersma) Verwolf, who were both immigrants from Holland. Judy grew up on a farm with eight sisters and two brothers, and she considered that the "good life." She learned to milk cows and work in the hay fields at an early age, and even though she worked hard, she always consider that time in her life as fun too.
Judy married James "Happy" Backus in 1935. Judy and Hap had two daughters, Leota and Ardith. They lived in Colorado for about a year, but Judy missed her Montana, so they moved back. In 1947, Hap was injured in an accident that left him paralyzed. He passed away in 1953. After Hap's death, Judy went to work at the Kessler Dairy in Bozeman. She loved that job because she got to meet the public and scoop ice cream all day!
In 1956, Judy and her girls moved to Missoula. She worked in a café for a short time, but considered herself a poor waitress. She then became a checker in grocery stores. She had the honor of receiving "Checker of the Year" for the state of Montana in 1963.
Later in 1963 she felt she needed a change, so she went to work on a ranch in Greenough. She worked at the Morris ranch and then the Lindbergh ranch. She worked in the house cooking and cleaning, but also did outside work when an extra hand was needed. She liked the outside work the best. She also enjoyed going fishing during those years. In 1965 Judy bought a two-year old horse and broke him to ride. She was very proud of that accomplishment. Those years were not work but fun. More of the "good life."
Judy moved back to Missoula in 1968 and worked in a bakery. During this time period she enjoyed bowling, her family and friends. In 1969, she met and married Jess Raser. She acquired four more children and their spouses, all of whom became very dear to her. Jess and Judy had lots of good times, riding horses and trucking cattle. They went on the Chief Joseph Trail ride in 1970 and 1973. Those times were very precious memories. Jess passed away in 1977. Judy moved to Corvallis where she continued to go on trail rides with friends and also worked in the school lunch room.
She lived a year in Townsend, with her younger sister. She then moved to Stevensville where she lived for 13 years. She kept busy with crafts, making greeting cards, taking care of flower gardens, visiting with friends and family and attending church. She especially loved the Verwolf family reunions held every two years. In February of 2002, Judy moved back to Corvallis to live with her daughter, Leota. In February 2003 she moved to the hospice center in Hamilton.
She was also preceded in death by a stepson, Vic Raser.
Survivors include her daughters, Leota (Richard) Sorenson of Corvallis and Ardith (Alex) Jackson of Stevensville; two sisters, Helen Holderby of Walla Walla, Washington, and Betty Jean Julian of Manhattan and one brother, Barney Verwolf of Stevensville. Also surviving are her six grandchildren, Lorinda Mapp, Jody and Doug Maurer, Chris and Cori Jackson, Cathy and Glen Pomeroy, Dan Sorenson, and Tracie and Eric Lutzenhiser; 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving in the Raser family are stepson, Lyle and Charlotte Raser of Ft. Collins, Colorado; stepdaughters Donna and (LeMoyne) Brown of Denver and Verla Nabity of Nebraska; 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Judy's family would like to thank Dr. Crews and the staff at the Marcus Daly Hospice Center for their wonderful and loving care; they became like family. Thank you also to our pastors and friends at the Lone Rock Bible Church who were always there for support, love and prayers.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, December 18, at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville at 1 p.m. with pastors Jim Carlson and Steve Lockrem officiating. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville. A reception will follow at the Jesus Community Church in Stevensville.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840.
She was born in Manhattan, Montana, on January 18, 1915 to Len and Emma (Hammersma) Verwolf, who were both immigrants from Holland. Judy grew up on a farm with eight sisters and two brothers, and she considered that the "good life." She learned to milk cows and work in the hay fields at an early age, and even though she worked hard, she always consider that time in her life as fun too.
Judy married James "Happy" Backus in 1935. Judy and Hap had two daughters, Leota and Ardith. They lived in Colorado for about a year, but Judy missed her Montana, so they moved back. In 1947, Hap was injured in an accident that left him paralyzed. He passed away in 1953. After Hap's death, Judy went to work at the Kessler Dairy in Bozeman. She loved that job because she got to meet the public and scoop ice cream all day!
In 1956, Judy and her girls moved to Missoula. She worked in a café for a short time, but considered herself a poor waitress. She then became a checker in grocery stores. She had the honor of receiving "Checker of the Year" for the state of Montana in 1963.
Later in 1963 she felt she needed a change, so she went to work on a ranch in Greenough. She worked at the Morris ranch and then the Lindbergh ranch. She worked in the house cooking and cleaning, but also did outside work when an extra hand was needed. She liked the outside work the best. She also enjoyed going fishing during those years. In 1965 Judy bought a two-year old horse and broke him to ride. She was very proud of that accomplishment. Those years were not work but fun. More of the "good life."
Judy moved back to Missoula in 1968 and worked in a bakery. During this time period she enjoyed bowling, her family and friends. In 1969, she met and married Jess Raser. She acquired four more children and their spouses, all of whom became very dear to her. Jess and Judy had lots of good times, riding horses and trucking cattle. They went on the Chief Joseph Trail ride in 1970 and 1973. Those times were very precious memories. Jess passed away in 1977. Judy moved to Corvallis where she continued to go on trail rides with friends and also worked in the school lunch room.
She lived a year in Townsend, with her younger sister. She then moved to Stevensville where she lived for 13 years. She kept busy with crafts, making greeting cards, taking care of flower gardens, visiting with friends and family and attending church. She especially loved the Verwolf family reunions held every two years. In February of 2002, Judy moved back to Corvallis to live with her daughter, Leota. In February 2003 she moved to the hospice center in Hamilton.
She was also preceded in death by a stepson, Vic Raser.
Survivors include her daughters, Leota (Richard) Sorenson of Corvallis and Ardith (Alex) Jackson of Stevensville; two sisters, Helen Holderby of Walla Walla, Washington, and Betty Jean Julian of Manhattan and one brother, Barney Verwolf of Stevensville. Also surviving are her six grandchildren, Lorinda Mapp, Jody and Doug Maurer, Chris and Cori Jackson, Cathy and Glen Pomeroy, Dan Sorenson, and Tracie and Eric Lutzenhiser; 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving in the Raser family are stepson, Lyle and Charlotte Raser of Ft. Collins, Colorado; stepdaughters Donna and (LeMoyne) Brown of Denver and Verla Nabity of Nebraska; 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Judy's family would like to thank Dr. Crews and the staff at the Marcus Daly Hospice Center for their wonderful and loving care; they became like family. Thank you also to our pastors and friends at the Lone Rock Bible Church who were always there for support, love and prayers.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, December 18, at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville at 1 p.m. with pastors Jim Carlson and Steve Lockrem officiating. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville. A reception will follow at the Jesus Community Church in Stevensville.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice Center, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840.
Family Members
Siblings
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Dina "Dixie" Verwolf Heath
1908–1993
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Barney Verwolf
1910–2004
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Johanna "Jo" Verwolf Colver
1912–1991
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George Verwolf
1913–1995
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Margaret Verwolf Campbell
1916–2000
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Guy L Verwolf
1917–1927
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Helen A. Verwolf Holderby
1920–2007
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Bertha Verwolf Metcalf
1922–1999
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June Elizabeth Verwolf Coleman
1924–1993
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Frances Ruth "Frankie" Verwolf Funk
1927–1992
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Betty Jean Verwolf Julian
1931–2011
Children
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