| . . . . in Memory of . . . . |
- Alice LaGrange
A funeral service for Alice LaGrange, 95, will be at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 26, 2009 at Plentywood Lutheran
Church. Pastor Ron Martin-Dent will officiate and burial will be at Outlook Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Randall
and Jerud Rice, Nicholas and Jason Olson, Aaron Zachary, Jacob and Benjamin Roark. Honorary pallbearers
will be all members of the Raymond Community, Raymond Homemakers and all the Staff and Residents of
Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home. Ushers will be Frank Bailey and Randy Rice.
Alice (Syme) LaGrange was born July 31, 1913, at her parent’s home five miles northeast of Raymond, MT. She
was the second child of eleven children born to William (Bill) and Mary Ann Syme. There were six boys, Jim,
Kenneth, Don, Tim, Howard and Calvin and five girls, Alice, Evelyn, Vera, Ardes and Gladys.
Being the Oldest daughter, Alice learned at a young age to care for her younger siblings, as well as help with
cooking and general housekeeping. They had none of the conveniences we have today. The clothes were
washed by hand, using a washboard. She told about one Sunday afternoon when they got some unexpected
company, Alice was 12 or 13 years old at that time when her mother sent her out to the barnyard to catch
chickens, butcher, clean and prepare them for supper that evening. I believe that most people of that era,
growing up in a large family, learned to work at a young age.
Alice grew up in the Raymond Community, attending grade school at the Reed, Corkery, Gibson and Raymond Schools. Her first year of high school was at
Ursline Academy at Kenmare, ND. She then returned and finished Plentywood High School, graduating in 1933. That summer she worked for George
Hunter at Antelope, caring for his invalid wife, earning $2.50 per week.
barn dances. It was at one of these dances that she met George, who played the banjo and violin.
George LaGrange and Alice Syme were married September 8, 1934 in Plentywood. They lived at the Granrud Coal Mine where George worked, until April
1935, when they moved three miles west of Raymond to what was known as the Miminaugh place. They lived and worked on this farm for the next 56 years,
they moved to Plentywood in 1991. They had two daughters, Marilyn Harshbarger (Robert), Shelby, MT and Dorthy Olson (Daryl), Plentywood, MT.
Alice worked on the farm doing whatever needed to be done, inside or out in the field. They raised cows, pigs and chickens. She was an excellent cook &,
baker and always had treats on hand for her grandchildren and anyone who stopped by for a cup of coffee, as well as always hauling hot meals to the field
during harvest time.
Her love of cooking and baking have been passed on to all her children and grandchildren. When unexpected dinner guests showed up, she could whip up
a delicious meal in a few minutes. Alice and Mary Kohler baked and decorated many wedding and anniversary cakes for people through out the county and
always provided a special cake for every family member’s birthday. She always raised a large garden, canning all the vegetables and fruit to last the winter.
Dorthy recalled a time when they were cooking beets in the pressure cooker, they got to visiting and forgot about the cooker, until it blew up, covering the
ceiling and the entire kitchen with beets. She was an excellent seamstress and when Marilyn and Dorthy were younger and even until they went to high
school, Alice sewed most of their clothes including coats. She also did crocheting, knitting and embroidering and taught her granddaughters to crochet as
well. She enjoyed working with all types of crafts. Alice and George made many decorative wood baskets, which they gave as gifts to the family and sold to
people all over the U.S.
Alice was a member of the Raymond Homemakers, Golden Years Club and on the committee that compiled a “Raymond Reflections “75th Jubilee book.
Alice enjoyed flowers as well as gardening but was never able to have flowers when they lived on the farm, because if the chickens didn’t scratch them out,
the dog either layed in them or dug them out. When they moved to Plentywood, she was able to enjoy her flowers and raised some beautiful tomatoes in her
flower bed as well. In January 2004 she went to La Casa Personal Care and in July of that year entered Sheridan Memorial Hospital and then the Nursing
Home, and while in these facilities she enjoyed all the activities provided. She died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of June 22nd, 2009 at the
age of 95.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George in 1995, her oldest grandson Bobby in 1975 and son-in-law Robert Harshbarger in 2008.
Brothers Jim, Kenneth and Don Syme and Sisters Evelyn Johnson and Vera Flemming..
Survivors are Daughters, Marilyn Harshbarger of Shelby, MT, and Dorthy Olson and Husband Daryl of Plentywood. Also surviving are grandchildren , Carolyn
Zachary of Boulder, MT, Randy Harshbarger, of Shelby, MT, Tina (Dan) Roark of Oilmont, MT, Judy Abell, of Campbellsville, KY, Marcia (Randy) Rice, Ronald
(Dawn) Olson, of Plentywood, Sandra(Frank) Bailey, Raymond, MT and Richard (Collette) Olson, Renton, WA. Also survived by 18 Great Grandchildren and 6
Great-Great Grandchildren. Brothers Howard (Ann) Syme of Plentywood, Tim (LaVonne) Syme and Calvin(Joanne) Syme of Raymond, MT. Two Sisters Ardes
Clay, Kalispell, MT and Gladys Becker, Lolo, MT and Sister in Law, Ila Syme of Raymond along with numerous nieces and nephews.
| 1913 - 2009 |
Remembering Alice
We will miss you Alice.
Wendy Sue (Olson) Fellers
Kirkland WA
wendyfellers@hotmail.com
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Wendy Sue (Olson) Fellers
Kirkland WA
wendyfellers@hotmail.com
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................