Katherine Boyles

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Katherine "Katie" Boyles, age 81, passed away on Saturday, August 8, 2009, at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care, surrounded by her loved ones. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2009 from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service. A Life Tribute Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 13, 2009 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Celebrant Sandy Silha will be officiating. Interment will follow in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Katherine was born on May 9, 1928, in Watkins, Montana, to parents Reinholt and Pauline (Schlepp) Naasz. She lived her younger years with six older sisters on her parents homestead in Prairie County, Montana, attending county grade schools until eighth grade. She was baptized into the Evangelical Lutheran Faith. On October 13, 1947, Katie married Donald D. Boyles in Miles City, Montana. Children Leon and Linda were born to their union. The couple lived their married life in Wyoming. After their divorce in 1957, Katie and children moved to Circle, Montana. She worked at numerous jobs, from cleaning homes to working in several cafes to support herself and her children. In 1968 the family moved to Glendive where Katie continued to work as a waitress for many years. Katie will always be remembered as being committed to her family and her employers but mostly to her customers. She took great pride in her service to others, she was always ready with a smile. Upon retirement Katie devoted herself to being a homemaker, she enjoyed crafts and needlework, her pride was her flower garden and was enjoyed by all of her neighbors. She especially enjoyed the time spent with her four grandsons and family. In 2008 Katie moved to the Glendive Extended Care Center. On February 19, 2008 her great granddaughter Kage was born; in her; Katie's life will continue. Katie was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Gene W. Pearson; sisters, Mathilda and brother-in-law John Schlepp, Maggie and brother-in-law Dan Erlenbusch, Martha and brother-in-law Gus Erlenbusch and Ida Moos, brothers-in-law; Edwin Kaul and Carl Schlepp. Survivors include, her son Leon Boyles and his wife Edwina of Glendive; her daughter Linda Pearson of Cody, Wyoming; grandsons, Lee Boyles and his wife Kayla of Glendive, Eric Boyles and his wife Kara of Spokane Valley, Washington, William Pearson of Cody, Travis Pearson and his wife Leslie of Wichita, Kansas and great granddaughter Kage (Katherine-Genevieve) Logan Boyles of Glendive; sisters, Annette Kaul of Missoula, Montana, Bertha Schlepp and brother-in-law Edwin Moos both of Circle, and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com Katherine “Katie” Boyles Life Tribute Service Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home Chapel, Glendive, MT August 13, 2009 Master of Ceremonies: Welcome Celebrant: Introduction to Candle Lighting Katherine “Katie” Boyles. Let us begin our time of remembrance with a special tribute from her family. Katie’s son, Leon, and her daughter, Linda Pearson, will each light a candle to honor their mother and the guiding light Katie was for them and for each of their families. Katie’s touch as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and in-law will be forever held in their hearts as a place of love and warm memories. To Katie… “Love’s flame may flicker but it never dies. May these flames be a memorial to the life and love you shared, a symbol of life beyond life, and a reminder that you are in our thoughts each day.” Let us listen to the song “Peace in the Valley” as Leon and Linda light these candles for their mother, Katie. Song: “Peace In The Valley” and Candle Lighting Celebrant: Eulogy Katie Boyles lived her life seeing to the needs of those around her. Her service and care to others, her family and her customers, were her priority, day in and day out. It was a trait that gave her both pride and joy. To understand what made this so important to Katie, we only need look at her upbringing. Katie’s sister, Annette Kaul, wrote of growing up on the homestead from which the following information was taken. Reinholt and Paulina Naasz, Katie’s parents, homesteaded about 65 miles out of Terry, Montana. It was a day and a half trip by horse and wagon, one way, to Terry for any supplies or needs. Katie was the youngest of seven girls, and all of the girls learned a strong work ethic early on in life. Annette says she doesn’t remember ever having to be called in the morning. Annette goes on to say, “we girls each had our special chores to do, so when morning came we were up and about.” Chores might include milking cows, washing the separator, feeding calves and pigs, getting water from a 65 foot deep well and carrying the buckets to the house, or getting coal for the heater. Katie talked about a coal vein that ran through the homestead, and her father dynamiting it when they needed coal. Katie remembered running and huddling with ears covered while the dynamite blew. Then the girls would pick up the chunks of coal and load them to be taken home. Katie’s “folks owned the land they homesteaded, and kept adding to it until they owned seven and a half sections, and leased some other land. The Naasz girls were the work crew along with their parents. They raised a variety of small grains, including alfalfa, which was seeded in the creek bottoms. Annette recalls, “my Dad would cut the alfalfa with the mower and we girls would roll it back out of the way with pitchforks before he could make the next round. When it was all cut, we would load the heavy alfalfa with pitchforks on the wagon and haul it to higher ground so rain wouldn’t wash it away. It was a back-breaking job.” The girls helped with all the farming. They burned thistles, plowed, disked, and harrowed. When harvest came they helped with stacking the wheat or working the grain. They also raised a variety of animals. The girls milked cows and sold the cream. Grocery money during the summer came from selling eggs. Their father had a few range cows and pigs, and their mother always had a big garden. The land had many rattlesnakes, and although no one was ever bitten, Katie developed a life-long fear of snakes. The family home was not insulated, so during the harsh winter months, it was difficult to keep warm. And getting the girls to school during the winter months was a hardship, and they missed as much school as they attended. Katie’s own formal education was only through the eighth grade. In Annette’s words, “there wasn’t much for entertainment. We had only a few storybooks at school. Those we read over and over. Sometimes we’d play cards. Then we sold some turkeys and got a phonograph. We really enjoyed listening to those records. We didn’t even have a radio then. Sometimes on nice moonlight evenings, we’d go sleigh riding and sometimes we’d all get into the sled and go visit neighbors.” Katie’s sister, Bertha Schlepp, recalls that when she and Katie would walk home from school, they would gather up the red dirt on the road and take it home to make “cakes”. In Bertha’s words, “they didn’t have much but they sure had fun!” Annette writes that all the girls got a good education from their parents. They also received a strong religious background, and were taught lessons in honesty, financial planning and management, and many things that were valuable life experiences. These early experiences and way of life were part of the character of Katie. She was selfless in her dedication to the needs and wants of her family. Katie knew the value of hard work and of doing a job well. And everyone’s needs came before her own needs. Katie grew into a strong and independent woman and what she had learned in her growing up days served her well. Katie married, had her two children, Leon and Linda, and was living in Wyoming when the divorce came. Katie and her children moved to Circle, Montana, and then later to Glendive. Katie cleaned homes and began a career of waitressing to support herself and her children. Katie always loved waiting on her family and on her customers, and she did that very well and with many smiles. Money was tight and Katie worked very hard, but she knew the importance of family. Katie worked shifts and she worked both weekdays and weekends, but even when she worked shifts until late at night, Leon remembers she was always up to see her children off to school. And if she wasn’t around because of work, they had plenty of aunts to mother them. Katie was a spotless housekeeper, never a dish in the sink or a bed unmade, and she was a wonderful cook and baker. Grandson Eric especially recalls her delicious chicken fried steaks, fried bread, and cookies. And grandson Lee always had to remind his friends that her name was Grandma Katie because his friends just called her “the milk and cookies grandma.” When Leon and Linda had families of their own, Katie stayed very involved with them. Both Leon and Linda had two boys each, and although Katie had dresses ready for a granddaughter, she loved her grandsons dearly. Leon and his wife, Edwina, both worked. And Katie felt that someone should be there for the boys after school and that someone was her. Katie never learned to drive, so over her lifetime, she walked many miles. Every day she would walk over to Leon and Edwina’s house to be there after school. Katie knew all of Lee and Eric’s friends. Eric had a penchant for animals, especially guinna pigs, and after dragging them home, he would tire of them in a few days. Grandma Katie would then take over their care, and even adopt them. When the boys were old enough to drive, they would drive her around to do errands, and she would pay them a couple of bucks for “cab fare” or maybe put gas in the car. And if someone seemed to be going off-track, Katie would help get them back on track. When Lee went off to college and would come home to visit, Katie would always ask him to bring his laundry with him so she could do it. She claimed she needed something to do. You can imagine how a young college man hated that! Both Lee and Eric can thank Grandma Katie for the gift of liking things neat and orderly. A trait they admired in her and have found in themselves. Because she didn’t drive, Katie’s travel was limited. But every year, Katie would board the Greyhound bus and head for a visit with Linda and her family in Wyoming. On one of Katie’s visits to Linda’s, they went to the museum in Cody. Linda smiles when she recalls the exhibit of animals and creatures that live underground. These were displayed under a plexiglass flooring and Katie would not walk on the plexiglass to view the display. She went around it. One reason might have been the snakes displayed. Katie’s grandson, Travis Pearson, would come and stay with Katie when he was on break from his job in North Dakota. Rather than drive home to Wyoming for his week off, he would just stop at his grandmother’s and spend that time with her. And grandson, Will, remembers watching “Days of Our Lives” with his Grandma Katie, a show she loved. Will also recalls that if you were coming to visit, Katie required at least a days notice. Katie needed to have that notice so she could take care of any personal things, such as getting her hair done. Katie wanted to have all her time to spend with her company. She also wanted to be ready to serve them their favorite foods and make their stay enjoyable. Katie always called Linda’s husband, Gene, her favorite son-in-law, which they got a chuckle over since Gene was her only son-in-law. And Katie always made Gene an apple pie, which he loved. Katie would make her guests their favorite meals when she cooked for them, and had plenty of desserts and snacks baked up. The minute you walked in the door, Katie was ready to wait on you. One of Katie’s biggest travel adventures was when Leon and Edwina took her to visit Lee at college in Des Moines, Iowa. They stopped at the Mall of America and were having an enjoyable time until they decided to go up a floor on the escalator. When the family got to the top, they looked around for Katie and there she was, at the bottom of the escalator. She would not ride the escalator. An attendant even came to assist her, but no, she was not going to go. The stairs or an elevator, yes; an escalator, no! After Katie went on oxygen, she rarely traveled anywhere. She was very fearful that she would run out of oxygen. She did go to her sister, Bertha’s, 80th birthday party in Circle, but she made Leon load the trunk of the car with oxygen tanks. Because of this not wanting to travel, Katie missed her grandson’s weddings. But she was there in spirit, as each bride to be had been given some of Katie’s jewelry and they wore that on their wedding day, to honor her. Katie loved jewelry and had a collection of unique brooches. She was an avid reader, enjoying mysteries, true story magazines, and gossip magazines. She read the newspaper faithfully and kept up on current events and politics. Katie kept her hands busy with crocheting, embroidery and beadwork. Members of her family have these handmade heirlooms to remember Katie by. Katie’s favorite music was country western, although, when she had a couple of occasions to see performing artists in person, she was not impressed, as they had obviously had too much to drink. A passion with Katie was her flowers. She had them at her house, and because Katie came over every day, Leon and Edwina made the corner of their boulevard her garden. They tilled it up for her and she planted a variety of flowers. She introduced Edwina to “hen and chicks”, and Katie’s flowerbeds always included her beloved geraniums. Katie spent time every day in her garden of flowers at Leon and Edwina’s during the growing season. Although Katie had her own home, she spent a great deal of time with Leon, Edwina, Lee and Eric. She was with them virtually every day until she was not physically able to do that. One tradition was to spend Christmas Eve at Katie’s home, having a meal, often pizza, and opening gifts, and on Christmas morning, Katie would come over to Leon’s for coffee and rolls and to open more gifts. Later, Katie often joined them in celebrating the day with Edwina’s family until Katie’s later years when it got to be too much for her. Katie thought the world of her four grandsons. Family was very important to Katie. And late in her life, Katie was blessed with a great-granddaughter. Katherine-Geneveive was born to grandson, Lee and his wife Kayla. Christened Katherine to honor Katie and Genevieve to honor another great-grandmother, the family took the first two letters of each name, and Katherine-Genevieve is better known as Kage. Kage was born after Katie entered the nursing home, and it was Kage’s visits that could light up Katie’s face, and Kage’s hello kisses that could bring a smile to Katie. And it is through Kage that Katie lives on. You might say that things have come full circle. Kage is not here today, she is at her other grandparent’s, a part of the harvest, much as her great-grandmother was so many years ago. Kage may not have her great-grandmother’s physical presence to live and grow with, but she will hear the stories of Katie, her namesake, and Katie’s spirit lives on in Kage. Living so close, Leon and Katie had a very special relationship. More than mother and son, Leon thought of his mother as his best friend. Katie’s presence in his life was constant, loving and supportive. Leon would take her out for coffee and conversation after work, and he was her driver and helper whenever she needed someone. Katie was very even-tempered. Although she did not formally belong to a church, Katie had a strong and abiding faith. Katie lived for the moment, and she looked out for and served everyone around her. Katie was greatly loved and she will be greatly missed. Her daughter, Linda, has chosen this verse to honor her mother’s faith and to honor the life Katie lived. “To everything there is a season, And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to plant and a time to harvest… As God sows and reaps Each tiny seed in the soil He cares for us from the first light And far beyond our earthly toil.” Please listen now to the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”, also chosen by Linda for her mother. Song: “The Old Rugged Cross” Closing: There are many views about the hope that waits for us in life beyond life, but there is one undeniable and ever present hope we can all share. That is the hope found in memories. “We live on in the lives of those we touch; we live on in the lives of those who love us.” Earlier, Grandson Will placed a black rose with his grandmother, and Will shares the symbolism of this black rose with you. “The black rose is a very strong presence, both visually and magically. A black rose, of course you know, does not exist in nature, it is an enigma if you will. The deepness of the colors are so extreme the rose looks black. The look of the black rose is a symbol of death, but also, it is a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings. This way of looking at the black rose’s meaning is joyous and hopeful. The black rose also means the overcoming of a long journey one has taken. The giving of a black rose also stands for loved ones that have passed away, who are unable to attend. It is a way to allow the recently departed to be here in spirit.” Will gives this black rose to his grandmother Katie in memory of his father, Katie’s son-in-law, Gene Pearson. Katie’s casket spray has a multitude of beautiful flowers, but also included are some with special significance. The two yellow roses are from her children, Linda and Leon. The four purple carnations signify her four grandsons, Lee, Eric, Travis and Will. And the large pink orchid is for Katie’s great-granddaughter, Kage. At the reception following Katie’s services today, the family has a table of memorabilia of Katie’s and also a basket of flower seed packets. These seed packets are for each of you to take home with you, to plant in your gardens in memory of Katie, and to enjoy the blooms as she would have. Much love and thought by Katie’s family has gone into honoring Katie today. Linda, Leon and Edwina, Lee, Eric, Will, Travis and all of Katie’s family, a special lady has left our world. As your friends and community, we grieve with you and we grieve for you. We have told a bit of Katie’s story here today, but it is you, her family, who will continue to tell her story. It is you through whom Katie will continue to live. Touched though you are with sadness, consider the experiences shared, the memories made. Hold them close; view them often. Katie’s touch on your lives, and in your hearts can never be taken from you. “To live on in the lives of those who love us is not to die.” This concludes Katherine’s “Katie” Boyles’ life tribute service. Thank you all for being here. Katherine “Katie” Boyles Committal Service Dawson Memorial Cemetery – Glendive, Montana August 13, 2009 Celebrant: It is an important day when we stop to bear witness to a person’s life and times among us, the difference her living and dying made among family and community, and to take time to express our grief, our hope, and our memories. Thank you for being here for this important time. Katherine “Katie” Boyles, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, in-law, sister, and friend, brings to rest all of her little nameless acts of kindness and love. But they will be long remembered and this will now be a sacred and special place. It is here that we show honor to the memories of a life that touched us and remains alive in our hearts. In committing Katie’s body to this hallowed ground, we do so with a deep reverence for that body as the temple, during life, of a beloved and unique personality. We place Katie’s body in that gentle earth which has been our chief support ever since human beings walked beneath the sun. As we return Katie to this good earth, from which all things come, the family asks that everyone join them in saying the “Lord’s Prayer” for Katie. “The Lord’s Prayer” We have spoken often today about Katie’s service to others, and her loving and caring nature to her family. The author of the following words is anonymous, but the words certainly are a reflection of Katie. “When my time comes I want to be remembered, not in a way that makes hearts ache, but in a way that brings warmth and joy. I want to be remembered for the happy times we shared for the ways we showed our love for one another. I want to have the peace of knowing that the ones I love will be happy and well, that their hearts will be hopeful, and their lives filled with experiences that are rich and rewarding.” Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase “pennies from heaven.” As the family says goodbye to Katie, they will be leaving a penny with her to signify that they are leaving their loving thoughts and kisses with her. As they go about the busyness of their lives, and find a penny in an unexpected place at an unexpected time, these “pennies from heaven”, will remind them of Katie and that she is sending a loving thought and kiss to them. If anyone else wishes to leave a penny with Katie, the family invites you to do so. Let us conclude our time with Katie by wishing her a safe journey, and finding reassurance that she, Katherine “Katie” Boyles will rest in peace.

Katherine Boyles

May 9, 1928 - August 13, 2009

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Katherine Boyles

May 9, 1928 - August 13, 2009

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support