Viva Ann "Ty" MacLeod, 85, died Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 11a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church. Ty was born May 12, 1922, in Billings, to William "Bill" and Florence Shirley. She attended schools in Havre, Livingston, Hardin, and The University of Montana in Missoula. While in high school in Hardin she met the love of her life, Colin O. "Scotty" MacLeod. They married five years later in Chicago on Jan. 11, 1944, immediately preceding her husband's deployment to Europe. During WWII she worked for a defense contractor in Hattiesburg, Miss., then was in charge of The Office of Price Control and Rationing in Choteau. When her husband returned after the war they settled in Glendive where she worked for the Soil Conservation Service until she and Scotty began their family. During her life she enjoyed directing her church choirs in Choteau and Glendive. She sang in the choir at her church in Houston, Texas where she was also an Elder. She sang in the choir for 20 years at First Presbyterian Church in Billings where she also helped start an adult Sunday school class, church and society. Ty was active in Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, The Order of Eastern Star, and was a member of Chapter BG of PEO. Ty provided support for her husband's career with Conoco in government and distributor affairs by hosting social occasions nationally, including Hawaii, and in Europe. She was an avid gardener involved with numerous garden clubs. She propagated and showed African Violets, winning many ribbons, before becoming a judge for area Violet shows. She was a talented seamstress and cook who enjoyed sharing her recipes and always had homemade cookies and bread ready for her family. Ty's greatest love was her family. Her devotion was especially evident as she stayed by her son's side for months after he sustained a traumatic brain injury. Ty was the co-founder, along with her husband, of the Brain Injury Association of Montana where she served as Secretary for many years. She was the principle organizer of the Billings Area Brain Injury Support Group. Ty is preceded in death by her parents, William and Florence Shirley; her siblings, William (Helen) Shirley, Barbara (Harold) Koontz and George Shirley. She is survived by her husband, Colin O. "Scotty" MacLeod of Billings; her children, Tom MacLeod of Whitehall, Carol (Dwight) Ritter of Billings, Burgess (Jean) MacLeod of Billings and Troy Carpenter of Grand Haven, Mich.; one granddaughter and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers memorials to benefit brain injured individuals in Montana may be made to the MacLeod Fund at Stockman Bank, 1450 Shiloh Road, Billings, MT 59106. Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
