Amy Alice Rody
Amy Alice Rody, a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully in Bozeman, Montana early in the morning on June 10th, 2009. Amy was born to Marie and Bert Wilkes in Libby, Montana on August 5, 1930. She was one of eight children, five brothers and two sisters.
She met John Kermit Rody in December of 1950 and they married in January of 1951. As a couple they moved to a farm in The Bitterroot Valley and started their family of four children. In 1962 they sold the family farm in the Bitterroot and moved to the Flathead Valley. They bought the Coast to Coast hardware store in Polson, Montana and became very successful business owners. In 1969 they sold the store in Polson and bought the Coast to Coast hardware store in Ronan, Montana. They ran the hardware store as a family business until 1975 when they retired. After retirement Amy got to do one of the things she loved the most in life, which was traveling. Amy traveled all around the States with her husband, Kermit. They once went down the Pacific Coast and then all the way up the East Coast on a road trip that lasted two months. She also took many special trips with other family and friends such as Kermit’s sister Margaret.
She lived in Ronan until 1995 when she moved to Bozeman. Her grandchildren have many wonderful memories with her as she was able to attend numerous school functions, birthday parties and spend quality time together. One favorite memory of many of her grandchildren was spending birthdays with their grandmother. Grandma Amy was so generous and loved to surprise her grandchildren with a bag full of goodies for their birthday present. Within this bag of goodies Grandma Amy would hide money! The dollar bills would be hidden in various spots and it always kept the grandkids guessing. They all had so much fun looking for the money. She was so creative and was known to bake money into cakes, roll dollar bills tightly into pens and hide bills in rolls of toilet paper!
Amy had many friends at the Bozeman Senior Center. She loved traveling with her friends from the senior center and took many gambling trips to Nevada. She treasured these trips and looked forward to them every year. She was recently recognized for her dedicated work as a volunteer with Retired Senior Volunteer Program. With R.S.V.P. she spent many hours at the rest area on the N. 19th exit greeting travelers. She also volunteered at the front desk of the senior center and knew everyone well. Everyone truly loved Amy.
Wherever she lived and whatever she did, Amy met many friends whom she remained close to throughout her life. She touched the lives of so many people. She is survived by her children; John and Jean Rody of Ronan, Diane and Jim Cashell of Bozeman, Kathy and Doug Hanson of Bozeman and Becky and Gerard Poore of Helena. She is also survived by her ten loving grandchildren: Sean (Brenda) Cashell, Matt (Heather) Cashell, Kelly Cashell (Kevin) Greiner, Amy, Katie and Melissa Hanson, Kelsey and Kyle Poore and Justin and Jenna Rody. She also has three great-grandchildren: James and Emma Cashell and Sarah Cashell. She is preceded in death by her husband Kermit.
A memorial service for Amy will be held on Saturday June 13th, 2009 at ten o’clock in the morning at the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson, Montana. She will be buried lakeside next to her husband in Lakeview Cemetery, Polson. Memorials can be sent to Bozeman Senior Center, 807 N. Tracy Ave. Bozeman, Montana 59715. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneral home.com Grogan Funeral Home, Polson, is assisting the family.
To all of Amy’s family, my love and sympathy are with you! Amy was a wonderful and supportive friend to me for many years. We shared so many very fun times and laughed alot! I will always cherish those great memories and am very thankful I had the opportunity to have her as a friend! God Bless you all through these difficult times.
Love, Donna
Justin and Family
I am sorry to hear of your loss, my prayers are with you.
Becky, Gerard, Kelsey, & Kyle,
Extending deepest sympathy and condolences to you and your family at this sad time. Holding you in prayer,
Vickie
I’m sorry to hear Amy is no longer with us. I know her from the Bozeman Senior Center and she always had a wonderful smile and was so cheery. I loved talking with her. We worked on the October sale cutting pies together. She was a delight and we’ll all miss her.
My sympathies to all of you. You may remember me, I was your babysitter for awhile in Polson. Your family will always have a special place in my heart. May you find comfort in happy memories of your Mom and Dad.
Dear Amy’s Family,
We have shared our friendship with Amy through the Bozeman Senior Center. We especially enjoyed our trips to jackpot with her. She will be missed by many; a friendlier person could not have been found. We share in your sorrow.
As the Associate Director of the Bozeman Senior Center I am in shock to learn that we have lost one of our most cherished volunteers. For the past two and half years, since I have been at the Center there was hardly a week that went by that I did not see Amy, let alone chat with her about what we had done the previous weekend or what we had planned for the upcoming weekend. I know she has precious family members that she talked about often, the cheerleading granddaughter in Missoula, the daughter, Becky in Helena, the other granddaughter in Colorado. She was always full of life and was always eager to help. She helped in every way, from the Rest Stop, the Front Desk, Fall Festival as the Pie Queen, to odds and ends at the Center. More than anything she was another dear grandmother to me, and I will miss her. Sending my best wishes your way.
Amy will be missed not only in the immediate family but also in the extended family. It was always nice to see and speak with her at family events. She had an uplifting and energetic spirit. We are thinking of the family and keeping all of you in our prayers.
We will miss you, Amy, and our many conversations at the Senior Center
about the state and many common friends.
Diane- sorry to hear of you loss of your mom…They are very special people in our lives. We can remember the happier times and she did sound like a character for her grandchildren to carry great memories of her. I never could understand how anyone could move to RONAN, but glad to have been classmates in Polson while we were. Your family will be in my prayers for healing. ginny nelson fuqua
Dear Becky and all of Amy’s family, it is hard to even put into words how sad I am about Amy. I have lost a very special dear friend. I will miss her
stopping to visit with me every single day at the Senior Center. Every day when she would come in she would bring me her newspaper and just give it a toss over to me. I always told her she was the best paperboy! Amy was such an inspiration to me about how to look at life and have such a positive attitude about everything. God bless all of you at this sad time. I am sending you all my thoughts and prayers. Love, Sue
Sorry to hear of your loss. May your hearts be filled with peace and lots of memories.
I will miss stopping to chat with Amy while she was volunteering at the Senior Center. She always had a great story to tell, a smile to share, and words of encouragement. She took an interest in and shared kindness with all of those around her. Amy was a joy to see when she volunteered and I am happy to have known her – she added delight to many lives.
I will miss Amy so very much.She was always so pleasant and kind to everyone that came to the Senior Center. She was an inspiration to all. She was a special lady.
Dear Kathy, Diane, Becky and John: I have fond memories of you and also your sweet parents. Kathy, I remember going to Coast to Coast and having a sandwich for lunch with you and your Mom. Your Mom had a smile and a laugh that brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. It sounds as if
she lived a full life. How wonderful to have so many memories of her. My prayers and love go out to you and all of your family. I am pleased to know where you all are. Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts in this manner. God bless you all. Gigi Snyder Henkel