Sharon Dianne Stratton

Sharon Dianne (Orre) Stratton, 73, died Sept. 24, 2013, at home, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born March 18, 1940, in Hillsboro, N.D., to Leonard and Elenor Orre. They later moved to Opheim, and resided on the John and Anna Richardson sheep ranch where some of Sharon’s fondest memories of her childhood were spent. Her love for her prairies never wavered.

She graduated from Opheim High School in 1958. On June 7, 1959, she married her high school sweetheart, Sandy Stratton, in the Opheim Lutheran Church. In 1965 she and Sandy moved to Columbia Falls, where they reside to this day. To this union of marriage, they were blessed with five boys.

She and Sandy celebrated 54 years of marriage this year. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and wife. You will find her sense of humor in all four of her boys. They all have the love for cooking. She was an awesome caregiver and would give you her shirt off her back if needed. There was always a house full and never an empty cookie jar.

She was greatly loved and will be missed, but we know she is with her family in Heaven.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Scott Lewis, born Oct. 7 and died Oct. 9, 1961; her parents, Leonard and Elenor Orre; one sister, Sally Harris; her father and mother-in-law, Sam and Irene Stratton.

Survivors include her husband, Sandy; four boys, Steven and his children, TJ, Tara and Casey; Stewart and his children, Shelby, Zach and Orian; Shane and his wife, Jenny, with their children, Ashlee, Josh and Mason; and Scott and his wife, Kim, with their children, Kayla and Jake; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, Ava, Kaden, Makenna and Tucker. (Shane was able to share that Ashlee was expecting, which will be their 5th great-grand baby); two sisters, Connie and Bill Goaseuski of Bayonne, N.J., and Clara and Rance Stahl of Billings; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Everyone was invited to come and share in her celebration of life on Sept. 28, at 2 p.m., at Columbia Mortuary. Inurnment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery. After the Inurnment, a supper was served at the Kalispell Moose Lodge. At a later date, a gathering will also be celebrated at Lawn Dale Cemetery in Opheim.

Columbia Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Stratton’s family. You are invited to go to http://www.columbiamortuary.com to view Sharon’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.