Janet “Tiny” K. Burtch

Janet “Tiny” K. Burtch, 67, of Dixon went to be with the Lord and loved ones Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, 10 years to the date after her beloved husband of 40 years, Dick Burtch, passed away on Nov. 29, 2001. She was surrounded by family whom she was very close to and loved them all as much as they loved her. She will be deeply missed, but the love of her life, Dick, came to take her home.

Tiny was born Dec. 21, 1943 in Hot Springs to Gilbert and Geri St. Germaine. She attended school in Dixon, followed by the Urselines in St. Ignatius, and onto Flandreau in South Dakota. Tiny married Dick on Dec. 7, 1961, and they then moved to Reno, Nev. where she worked as a telephone operator. In the early ‘60s, they moved to Ravalli where they had their first son, Robert, who tragically passed away at 7 months old from a virus. The following year they had a daughter, Roberta, who passed away at birth. In 1966, they moved to Libby and had another daughter, Ronda, born June 15, 1967 and then the three moved to Dixon in 1971.

In Dixon, they rented the repair shop across from Dixon Bar. During this time, Tiny drove the school bus for Dixon School and worked at Dr. Daniels office in St. Ignatius. On March 28, 1972, their daughter Tina was born.

They built their big shop in 1976, together they started many companies. Burtch Construction and Repair, Burtch Trucking, Boot Hill Second Hand, a cord wood yard and then fire engines. Tiny and Dick were a successful team who kept busy and enjoyed it all. They met many good friends through business so that to this day everyone knew them and they were well liked by many. Tiny was a tough, but good businesswoman. Tiny was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and worked for the tribes on Tribal elections for about 30 years until 2010. Tiny also briefly worked for the U.S. Census Bureau.

Tiny was a strong, independent woman who loved spending time with family and was always thrilled with the new additions to the family, having four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed family dinners, barbecues, traveling, fishing, camping, cooking, gardening, sewing, playing cards, gambling, bingo, bowling on the Wii, watching Nancy Grace, her animals and going to the Sanders County Fair Demo Derby, which she also drove in.

Tiny is preceded in death by her father; mother; husband of 40 years, Dick Burtch; daughters, Ronda and Roberta, son Robert, brothers, Rodger and Myron; grandparents and numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Tiny leaves behind daughter Tina (Randy); brother Dennis St.Germaine; grandkids Kyla (Gary), Wren, Kaylee (Trevor) and Siarra, great-grandkids Shakira, Shantayla, Tianna, and Deshawn; and other numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Condolences can be left online at www.fosterfhandcrematory.com.