MYRA SITCH, Obituary

CHESTER Myra Mae Sitch, 85, died Saturday, July 20, 2002, at a Chester hospital after collapsing at her home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Chester Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery.

Myra was born Oct. 31, 1916, at Drake, N.D., to Ione E. Hanson and Olen D. Gifford. She grew up in North Dakota and received her formal education there.

She married George "Ed" Ross on June 25, 1924, in Great Falls. They made their home in Chester where Myra began her life as a homemaker and mother of three daughters. The family moved to Hamilton in 1953. When their daughter, Candyce, died in 1966, they adopted their two grandsons and moved to Helena. They moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1970. Ed died in 1972, and Myra and the boys stayed on in Spokane until 1981, when they moved to Chester to be closer to other family members.

Myra began dating local farmer Fred Sitch and they were married in Shelby on July 1, 1984. They made their home in Chester, where they were active in community and social functions. Fred died in 19987. Myra continued to live in their home until her health began to fail and she moved in with her son Scott Ross and his family.

Myra was a lifelong member of the Assembly of God Church in Chester. She served as a Sunday school teacher and as a camp counselor at Glacier Bible Camp for several years. She loved children and was always excited to see them involved in church activities.

Myra organized the Hi-Line Chuckwagon Band, a group of senior citizens who entertained with music played on homemade instruments. She made most of the instruments in the band and played the washboards. The band made a memorable trip to Billings in 1991 to play at a State Council on Aging conference. Gov. Stan Stephens played with the band during the conference and was inducted as an honorary member.

Myra enjoyed swimming and camping in her younger days. She and Ed were rockhounds and enjoyed making jewelry. During her years in Hamilton, Myra baked many wedding cakes and catered several social events. She also enjoyed sewing, crocheting and needlework. In her later years, she enjoyed reading, especially Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey novels. She also enjoyed a good John Wayne movie. She also volunteered at the Liberty County Museum because of her love for local history. She loved being around people. Her family and friends were very important to her.

Myra was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, husbands, and two brothers, O.D. and Roland Gifford.

Survivors include her daughters, Glenda Keune of Chester and Cheryl (Ken) Hughes of Hamilton; sons, Mark (Jody) Ross of Conrad and Scott (Shelley) Ross of Chester; sisters, Carrie Harmon of Everett, Wash., and Sue Brown of Chester; brothers, Wally Gifford of Duarte, Calif., Russell Gifford of Florida, Glen "Butch" Gifford of Brady, and George Gifford of Sugarland, Texas; five grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Chester Assembly of God's Kids Camp Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.