Rosala (David) Ivy

RONAN - Rosala (David) Ivy, 73, of Ronan died of natural causes on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2004, at St. Luke Community Hospital.

Rosala was born Jan. 3, 1931, in Stevensville to Mollie and Henry David. The family later moved to St. Ignatius, Round Butte, and Polson and then settled in Ronan.

She attended Ronan schools and graduated in 1949 from Ronan High School. Shortly after graduating Rosala moved to Spokane. She worked as a switchboard operator at St. Luke Hospital in Spokane. She later got a job at Fairchild Air Force Base as a civilian employee. There she met Airman Riley Ivy. They later married and had on son, Thomas Henry.

Riley left the service and the couple moved to Victoria, Texas, to be near his family. Rosala was able to transfer to a nearby air base. The marriage ended in a divorce. She then transferred to Seattle and later to Colorado Springs.

Rosala put in for a transfer for overseas work. She spent the next 10 years in Wisbaden, Germany, with the Strategic Air Command (SAC). While in Germany she traveled all over Europe and Asia during vacations and holidays.

Upon returning to the States she worked for the North American Air Defense in the Pentagon and later transferred to the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. She retired in 1986 after 30 years of government service and returned to Ronan.

She purchased her very first home and faithfully attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She thoroughly loved work with and teaching the Sunday School children.

In 1998, Rosala was struck blind as the result of a serious surgery. She lived on her own with the help of family and friends for the next six and a half years before other complications took over her body and she needed extra care. She made a valiant effort to make the best of her situation.

Preceding her in death were her son, Thomas Henry; her parents; four brothers, Henry, Benny, Edward and John; five sisters, Esther David, Marie Hamel, Martha Jones, Sue Davies and Letha Hassell.

Surviving are brothers Jake David of Oakridge, Ore., William David of Helena; sisters, Eva Myers of Oakridge; Freda Francis of Clarkston, Wash., Betty Bear of West Richland, Wash.; Ruth Ann Gregg of San Carlos, Calif.; Billie Mae Jackson of Ronan and Darline David of Portland, Ore.

Funeral services will be held Thursday (today) at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ronan at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to the Bread Basket, Habitat for Humanity, or the charity of choice.

Shrider's Mortuary of Ronan is assisting the family with arrangements.