Alice Eurilla Trosper
ALICE EURILLA TROSPER
Alice Eurilla Trosper, 88, of Polson, died peacefully of natural causes at Canyon Creek Memory Care Community in Billings on Saturday, June 10. Alice was born in Kimball, Neb., on Feb. 24, 1929, to Edward A. Stockton and Hester Fry Stockton. She was the third youngest of 12 children. Mom and Pop and the family relocated to Post Creek in the Mission Valley when she was twelve. Alice attended school in Charlo until she was 16 when she had to quit school and stay at home to help on the farm.
Alice met her future husband Eldin T. Brubaker while growing up at Post Creek. They were married when she turned 17 and lived at Ronan. They had two daughters (Lynda and Danna) and Alice was pregnant with a third daughter (Eldeana) when tragedy struck and Eldin was killed in a trucking accident near Winnet, Mont., in May, 1949. She was left alone to care for her three small daughters.
Alice met George Lester Trosper and they married at Ronan in August, 1950. Lester adopted Lynda, Danna and Eldeana. They were also blessed with two boys and a daughter, Bradley, Leslee and Randy. They resided in Ronan while Lester farmed in the North Crow Creek area. The family moved to Kerr Dam in 1956 when Lester began employment as a hydroelectric operator. They continued to operate the farm as well. In October 1968 they lost their oldest daughter, Lynda. In 1969, they sold the North Crow Creek farm and purchased another southwest of Polson. Upon Lester’s retirement from Montana Power in 1970, they left Kerr Dam and moved to the farm. Lester died of complications during surgery in December 1981.
Alice met and married L.G. “Bill” Baertsch in May 1988. They lived at Bill’s farm southeast of Polson and enjoyed many happy years travelling while spending winters in Arizona until Bill died from cancer in May 1993. Alice returned to live at her farm.
She later married and divorced Bill Burke.
Alice lost her youngest child, Randy, in October 2009 after his short battle with heart disease, cancer, and additional complications.
Circumstances forced her to enter assisted living in 2010.
Alice was a wonderful seamstress. She loved to crochet and to garden. Alice devoted many years to helping with the farm. She was a member of Eastern Star in the 1960’s and very active in the Veterans of Foreign War Auxiliary where she held many offices. She was a wonderful mother and we, her children, are blessed to call her our own.
She was preceded in death by husbands Eldin Brubaker, Lester Trosper and Bill Baertsch, her children Lynda and Randy, her parents Ed and Hester Stockton, her son-in-law Buz Dickson, and all of her siblings. She is survived by her children Danna Hurtt (Richard), Eldeana Davis, Brad Trosper (Marilyn), and Leslee Dickson, her nine grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m., Friday, June 16, at Lake Funeral Home, 101 6th Ave. E., Polson. Funeral services will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 409 4th Ave. E., Polson at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 17, with Rev. David Rommereim officiating. Graveside services will follow at Lakeview Cemetery. A reception will be held at Good Shepherd after the services. Alice’s family sends a special thank you to the staff at Canyon Creek Memory Care for their wonderful care of Alice. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com. The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, is assisting the family.