Shirley Otness

On the evening of September 19, 2016, Shirley Otness, 84, passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was living in Lewistown, Montana where she had recently been moved to be closer to her son in Billings and other family members.

Shirley was born November 3, 1931 in Hedgesville, Montana to Peter and Marie (nee Harding/Hartung) Manaige to join the family with her sisters, Mary Kay and Norma Jean Manaige. Their father died unexpectedly on August 16, 1933, before Shirley's second birthday. After his death, Kay and Norma were adopted by their father's sisters.

Her early school experiences began when she was still a toddler. Her mother was a school teacher around Harlowtown, Barber, Bridger, Ryegate and other central Montana areas. During summer breaks, Marie cooked at area dude ranches so they would move twice a year. Marie married Earl Steele in 1943 and they had three children, Bill, Judy and Pat. Earl lived on the Alaska Bench in the Snowy Mountains which was impassable in the winter. So Shirley stayed at boarding houses in Lewistown during her seventh and eighth grade years. She attended high school at Fergus County High School in Lewistown. During high school she rented an apartment and worked at Q's Ice Cream Store. She graduated in 1949.

After graduation, she attended Saint Joseph's School of Nursing (Lewistown) where she became a Registered Nurse. She was offered and accepted a job at the Teton County Memorial Hospital in Choteau. Les and Shirley Otness were married October 3, 1953 in Lewistown. They made their home on the family farm north of Choteau.

Mrs. Otness was very active in the community. She joined the Soroptimist Club of Choteau and Vicinity in 1968 and served as treasurer and was a life member. She belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church, served on the church board and was the first woman to serve communion at Trinity Lutheran. She served as vice president of Trinity Lutheran Church Women, was on the hospital board in the 1980s and was a member of the Teton County Extension Advisory Council.

She is survived by two siblings, Bill Steele of Lewistown, Montana, Pat McCallum of Seattle, Washington and by her three children, Janet Otness in San Antonio, Texas, Mike Otness in Billings, Montana and Sue Colas in Palm Bay, Florida. She has three grandchildren, Diane Otness in San Antonio, Karen Pattyn in Westminster, Colorado and Karl Pattyn in Niwot, Colorado, and one great granddaughter, Brooke Lounnivongsa in Westminster, Colorado.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Les Otness, sisters Kay Nelson, Norma Olmstead and Judy Lewellen. There will be a memorial service at the Gorder-Jensen Funeral Home, Choteau on Saturday, October 29th at noon.

Condolences may be left on-line at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com