HELEN J. DOLEZAL obituary

Helen J. (McDermot t ) Dolezal, 73, daughter of the Sweetgrass Hills, ended her long, courageous struggle with Scleroderma on the evening of Feb. 17 in her home surrounded by her loving husband and children. Her funeral Mass will be Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, at 11 a.m. in St. Gabriel's Cathol ic Church, with burial following i n t h e K u p e r Memorial Cemetery. Her fellowship luncheon will follow at the church parish center. The Rosary will be recited at the church on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Memorials may be sent in her memory to the Chinook Senior Citizens Center or the Scleroderma Foundation at http://www.scleroderma. org. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Born on Sept. 4, 1933, in Shelby, Helen was the ninth chi ld of Ruth and Peter McDermott's 12 children. Helen was raised at the McDermott Coal Mine in the Sweetgrass Hills north of Shelby. She attended the McDermott School and Sunburst High School. Helen married her sweetheart and best friend, Robert J. Dolezal Sr., on Sept. 15, 1951, in Havre. She and Robert raised their nine children on the Dolezal Brothers Ranch of Whitlash and the R & H Ranch of Roy. She was well known for her fun-loving spirit and willingness to share her family. In addition to many years as a ranch wife and 4-H leader, she was a popular cook at the Chinook Motor Inn Restaurant. She was a board member of the Chinook Senior Citizens Center, meeting everyone at the door with a smile and hugs during the daily noon meals. She loved playing cards with family and friends, singing and laughing with her children, grandchildren and foreign exchange students. She welcomed all to her table, being generous with her bakery delights. Helen is survived by her husband, Robert J. Dolezal, and their c h i l d r e n , R u t h Burleigh of Chinook, Wi l l iam (Marcia) Dolezal of Dayton, Oh i o , Ro b e r t J . (Nancy) Dolezal Jr. Of Ely, Nev., Sharlene (Tom) Barnum of Eugene, Ore., Penny (Michael) Velk of Havre, Nancy Dolezal of Yuma, Ariz., Arthur (Charlotte) Dolezal of Billings, Mark (Karla) Dolezal of Ely, Nev., and Kent (Julia) Dolezal of Carbondale, Ill .; her sisters, Beverly (Edward) Nash of Cut Bank, and Dixie Swenson of Great Falls; her brothers, Rodney (Grace) McDermott of Seattle, Wash., Henry (Jane) McDermott of Shelby and Kenneth (Ellen) McDermott of Fairfield, 36 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter J. and Ruth A. (Barnes) McDermott; h e r s i s t e r s , Ro s ema r y McDermott, Elnora McDermott Lamme rd ing , and Be t t y McDermott Zell; her brothers, Patrick McDermott, William McDermott, and Peter Guy McDermott.