Billie Fleming West
The family of Wilma Margaret “Billie” Fleming West, 88, of Polson, announce the passing of their sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. We mourn the loss of her presence with us, but celebrate her life of work, play, motherhood, and love.
Billie passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan, MT.
Billie was born in Indianola, Nebraska in 1922 to Louis and Ruth Vontz. Little “Willie” was the fourth child of four girls and one brother and lost her parents early in life. In 1939 having completed high school, Billie attended a dance in central Nebraska, danced to the music of the Jimmy Fleming Band and fell in love with the bandleader. Billie danced through life from that moment on.
On a golden August day in 1941, a black haired beauty arrived in Pablo, Montana with her mother-in-law (Mable) and Jim. An immigrant car carried the tools of farmers including two Nebraska workhorses. The newlyweds moved west to escape the ravages of the Great Depression and drought and soon established a successful farm on the edge of Pablo.
Jim and Billie were blessed with eleven children over the next twenty years. Billie reveled in raising her children; making the best cinnamon rolls in the valley, and using a pressure cooker to feed her large family.
Billie loved music and enjoyed singing in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church choir in Ronan and the Polson Sweet Adelines. Her sense of style and homemaking skills placed her as a finalist in the Mrs. Montana competition and as a model in Fresno, CA at annual charity fashion shows.
Supporting and advising husband, Jim, as he served in the Montana Legislature was a highlight of Billie’s life. She loved meeting people and they always loved Billie.
Billie’s fist marriage ended in 1976 with the death of her dear Jim and she turned to dealing with her loss and maintaining the family farm in Pablo. She completed her duties in raising children and spent the next few years traveling and working for Community Concerts. Soon, she had caught the eye of a handsome cowboy doctor who happened to be the father of her daughter-in-law, Lydia. In 1981, Billie and the second love of her life, Robert West, were married in Carmel, CA.
Billie and Bob lived primarily in Fresno, be she never missed a summer on Flathead Lake at the family cabin. Billie loved her grandchildren and had many to love, but also loved her new life with its freedoms to travel and see the world. They spent their lifetime traveling to rodeos around the West and ski trips to Europe. She expressed her sense of public duty by serving on hospital boards both for St. Luke in Ronan and St. Agnes in Fresno.
Always an outdoor person, Billie found time to hike the Mission Mountains, Glacier Park, and in later years, long exercise walks. Her excursions into the mountains with her Ronan huckleberry pals highlighted late summer days. Long journeys into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, led by husband Bob, a lifelong packer, showed how tough Billie really was. In winter, she loved to ski the slopes of Montana, California, and occasionally Europe.
In addition to her husband, Bob, and sister, Sister Ruth Vontz, Billie is survived by her eleven children, Mary (Tom) Weaver of Houston, TX, James Fleming III of Polson, Joan (Bob) Hardie of Seattle, John (Lydia) Fleming of St. Ignatius, Pat (Charlene) Fleming of Pablo, Peg (Mike) Hertz of Missoula, Greg Fleming of Pablo, Neil Fleming of Pablo, Ann Fleming of Ronan, Kate (Greg) Hertz of Polson, Elizabeth (Greg) Collins of Polson; three step-children, Lydia (John) Fleming of St. Ignatius, Dulce (Dick) Zoellner of Whitefish, and Russell (Mary) West of Imbler, OR; twenty eight grandchildren, Joel Weaver, Christine (Pete) Trammell, Molly Weaver, Cindy Fleming (Keith) Johnson, Thomas (Amanda) Fleming, Brad (Jennifer) Thompson, Erik (Stephanie) Thompson, Craig (Lydia) Thompson, Theresa (Glenn) Kaleta, Louis Fleming, Will (Brandi Ellefsen) Fleming, Ian Fleming, Lisa Fleming, Chris Fleming, Derik (Elise) Fleming, Ryan (Desiree) Hertz, Stefani (Garrett Irvine) Hertz, Sarah Hertz, Jacob Fleming, Nathan (Gretchen) Fleming, Jennifer Johnson (Mike) Hendrickson, Shannon (Vanessa) Johnson, Kristin Hertz, Matthew Hertz, Adam (Brittni Friia) Hertz, Clyde Collins, and Maxwell Collins; twenty four great grandchildren, Caroline, Billy, and Jefferson Trammell, Chance, Ashley, and Brady Johnson, Olivia and Elijah Fleming, Bailey and Braden Thompson, McKlain and Keaton Thompson, Copper and Kerrigan Thompson, Katie and Ella Kaleta, Hana and Ryland Hertz, Issac and Isaiah Fleming, Emma and Casey Fleming, Cashton Henrickson, and Braeden Coleman; four step-grandchildren, Carine (Steve) Schlesinger, Guy (Keagan) Zoellner, Nick West, and Reva West; a step-great grandchild, Kinley Schlesinger.
Billie is preceded in death by her first James Fleming, Jr., sisters, Helen Morris and Marie Davis, a brother, Louis J. Vontz, a son-in-law, Owen Thompson, and a grandson, James “Jimmy” F. Fleming IV.
Billie lived her life with grace and class and died in peace surrounded in love. The family would like to thank the Comfort Keepers of Kalispell, the St. Joseph Retirement Community, and St. Luke Hospital for the excellent and thoughtful care in Mom’s last days and years.
In lieu of flowers, Billie’s family has asked that donations be made to the Holy Cross Center for Women in Fresno, CA, SAFE Harbor, the St. Luke Foundation, the Mission Valley Aquatics, or to an organization of the donor’s choosing.
Visitation for Billie’s friends and family will be held on Friday, May 27, 2011 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ronan from 4:00 – 7:30 PM, at which time a vigil service will begin. Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday morning, May 28, 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Polson. A luncheon will follow mass and burial will occur at Ronan Cemetery afterwards.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Billie’s family.
Thomas, Jim and family. Our condolences for your loss. Allen and Beth Smith
We are so sorry for your loss. The family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Fleming family:
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your mother.
Luana Ross
I told Neal the last time I visited with his Mom (at the urging of Kate) she shook her finger at me and told me to get back to work!
God bless.
A very nice Lady.
Billie was truly an amazing woman. It will shine on in her legacy of her children and family. She will missed but always remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this sorrowful time. Love to all.
Gina and Wes
Our thoughts are with you.
We are so very sad to hear about Billie’s passing. She was a favorite of ours not only because she was our “Aunt,” but because we loved her as a kind, thoughtful and classy person. Our hearts go out to all of you at this most difficult time. We know these past few years have not been easy.
With Love and Prayers,
Betsy and Art
My thoughts and prayers to the family of a special Lady. I am the sister of Janet Feddersen who was a special friend of Jim and Billie.
I have been truly blessed by Billie and all her family. It was an honor to be a personal caregiver for Billie. She had a great sense of humor, a loving nature, and willing to count me as one of her own. I will always carry her in my heart.
Blessings of love and light be with you all!
Ann and Greg Donnelly
So sorry to hear of Billie’s passing, she was such an elegant lady, my deepest sympathy to all of her family.
Charlene McClure Schaub
What a great lady and what a wonderful family she had. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.
My condolences to the family; your mom was a special lady and I remember her supporting all of us when we were at the Ursuline school in Mission.
When we moved to Pablo many years ago, Billie was one of the first people we met. She was truly the “lady” of Pablo…and will always have a very special place in our hearts of wonderful memories…please accept our condolences at this time…
My heart goes out to all of you “Flemings”. Family support is such a help at this time.
What a lady!!!!!! You can be proud.
Peace and joy,
Connie
MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCE GOES OUT TO THE ENTIRE fLEMING WEST CLAN FOR YOUR LOSS.
i am so sorry for your loss. your mother was a very classy lady and i remember being in awe of her when i went to your home in Pablo to play with Liz. my thoughts and prayers are with you.
i am so sorry for your loss as thought’s and prayers are with you all at this time , she was one wonderful person to know as god bless and be with you all at this time Rose
Neil, Pat, Greg and Flemming family we are so sorry to hear about your loss, your mom and Family are a true icons of “Pablo” from a time when it was more then just an “old town the highway left behind” it was a real close community you are in our thoughts and prayers she will be missed…. Jim & CloAnn
Billie was a very special person. We know she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Harry and Judy Bean, Bob Deschamps
Dear Cousins,
Remember, the angels are always with your mom.
Love always,
Cousin Paul
The angels rejoice welcoming one of their own. What a Woman!
Thinking of all of you and remembering you fondly.
Jeanie
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Of all the positive adjectives I could think of, “Gracious” was the first to come to mind. I always enjoyed visiting with her. Gil and Joanne Mangels
I find your mom “unforgettable”. She will always be the image of graciousness in my mind. Our hearts are with you as you hand her to God.
Judy
Our prayers are with all of you. May you rest knowing that Aunt Billie is in peace with her wonderful Father in Heaven. What a great and wonderful person Aunt Billie was and still is in our memory!
All,
So sorry for the loss and I feel so bad I was unable to attend the service. As I was out of town. Just found out today..
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
No words to express at a time of loss.
Blessings to all.
June D. (Ashley) Skaggs
Billie was such a lovely lady. I have fond memories of seeing Billie at the cabin and her beautiful smile. Her grace is passed down through all of her wonderful children.
Love you all!!
Thinking of you at this time of loss. Your mother always struck me as a kind and beautiful person. May her memories provide comfort now, and throughout your future.
Dear cousins and Sister Ruth,
I have so many wonderful memories of Aunt Wilma with the most precious memory on August 25, 2009. It was a wonderful day visiting Aunt Wilma, Sister Ruth and almost all the cousins!! This is a day we will never forgot!! May God Bless each and every one of you during this very difficult time. She will be in our hearts forever.
Rich and Felicia Sexton
So sorry to hear about the passing of your mother.
Such a beautiful woman with an amazing family! It was always so great seeing her at the plays that Kate and Annie made sure she was able to attend…..always so positive and kind!
Our thoughts are with you knowing how hard it is to lose your mom!
It was such a priviledge to have known and enjoyed your mother. We had such fun on our hikes in Glacier & Billie seemed to make every adventure a fun experience for everyone around her.
I loved to listen to her tell stories of her family when all the kids were little–she loved you all very much.
She was a truly beautiful person.
God’s blessings to all of you.
Kate and family,
I didn’t know Billie until I read her lovely life story. She was a blessing to her large family and her larger community where your loss is felt widely. Sincerely, Carmine Mowbray
Our condolences to Dr West and Mrs. West’s extended families – we have been wondering where Dr West is now – we always enjoyed talking about their favorite areas of Montana and Wyoming- Sincerely, Allen and Lynn Taylor, Bullard Pharmacy, Fresno
We treasure every moment we spent with Billie. She was a mother to us in Fresno, bringing a taste of Montana back to us. She had class, grace and beauty, practicality and fun. We miss her. Love, Meg and Bill
Billie lit up any room she walked into. I had the great pleasure of working with her during my employment at Saint Agnes and have so often thought of her. She personified love on this earth and lived her life with grace and beauty. My thoughts and prayers are with her wonderful cowboy husband and the loving family she leaves behind. Thank you for sharing Billie with those of us who were lucky enough to know her.
Dear Ann and Family,
We are deeply grieved to learn that you have lost your beautiful mother.
Please accept our most sincere sympathy. What a wonderful obituary! What an amazing life! We know how all of you will miss her, and we pray that your faith will bring you comfort and peace. I know you and your family have so many fond memories to bring you joy until you meet again.
Shane and Carol Roberts
Now, dancing with both her husbands. A wonderful woman leaves behind a wonderful family!
My condolences to all of the Felming family for the loss,
We will never forget how welcoming Billy was to our family when we first moved to Pablo in ’71. She would invite the boys to use the pool on some fierce summer days….share a glass of wine w/me and just make time to chat…and when on the hospitals Board of Directors, was instrumental in raising Jim’s salary to a “livable wage”. A wonderful neighbor in every way.
Our condolences for your loss, but she, indeed, lived her life with grace and class.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Billie was such a beautiful, caring, gentle woman. Her life is such an inspiration. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers during this time.
My heartfelt sympathy for the loss of Billie. She was a remarkable woman. What a beautiful obituary/biography. I am sure you will all cherish warm memories of her love and her life.
Marla
Our heart felt thoughts and sympathies to all the family at Great_Aunt Billie’s passing. She is remembered with love and fondness for her graciousness and strength. All our love, Suzanne and Family (Helen’s grandaughter)
I am so sorry to hear of Billies passing. She was a great lady who had a very special way about her and I will cherish the short memories with your family and her always.
Mom — she introduced me to Jimmy Carter from Plains!