Dolores Youso 84, of Libby

Dolores (Dee) Parsons Youso passed away Dec. 18, 2011, at the Libby Care Center in Libby surrounded by her loving family.

Dolores was born August 13, 1927, to Francis and Beatta Parsons at Selfridge, N.D.

She was the third of five children.

In 1930, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where Dee grew up and attended school. She graduated from Central High School in 1945.

While working at a bakery, Dolores met the man of her dreams and soon after, married Alfred Youso on March 4, 1946.

Al and Dee were partners in every way for the next 62 years until Al’s death in 2008.

In 1955, Al and Dee moved their family west; purchasing A & D Sales & Service in Libby. Together they managed the business, raised four children together, and together they loved six grandchildren and 10 great- grandchildren.

Dee had a giving soul and her generosity extended beyond her church and family to many over the years who temporarily needed a helping hand. 

In several situations people were welcomed into her home until they were able to get on their feet again. Dee was known as “Ma” or “Grama” by many who were not her offspring.

Being a bookkeeper, Dee lived by exacting standards. Her house was immaculate; her budget always balanced! You saw her courage most often displayed in her consistent honesty.  You always knew right where you stood with Dee. 

Dee faced cancer in 2006 and won.  Her courage and will surprised and inspired us all as she moved deliberately forward. Her last years were marked by Alzheimer’s disease which she met with the fiery presence of the woman we all love.

When asked how she was doing, her reply was always, “Well, I am still kickin’, just not as high.”

When told to be good; the reply was always, “you don’t tell an Irishman that!”

She loved her family, her church and her friends. She loved laughter and being Irish. She loved playing silly card games. She loved her brandy. She loved going anywhere; especially a trip to Hawaii for her 50th wedding anniversary.

She loved pizza and ice cream. She loved the Minnesota Vikings. She loved Shirley Temple & had all of her movies.

Perhaps her greatest love was singing and as a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church she sang in the choir there for over 50 years.  While Dee lived in Auburn Wash., with her son and daughter-in-law she joined the choir at Holy Spirit Parish in Kent, Wash., because “they needed her bass voice.”

Even during her two-plus year stay at the Care Center, on the first Monday of every month, she joined in with a church group from Troy to sing for her fellow patients.

Her favorite songs were “Ave Maria, O Danny Boy, and You Are My Sunshine,” which she sang for the last time with her granddaughter over the phone the day before she went to be with God.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Tom and Frank Parsons, her sister Evelyn Johnson, & her husband Alfred Youso.

Dee is survived by her sister Patricia Youso of Libby, her daughter Michele Switzer (Tom) of Otsego Minn., son Bill of Libby, son Dan (Connie) of Auburn Wash., son Patrick (Dorothy) of Little Rock Ark., her grandson Jason Youso, and granddaughters, Chris Inman, Larissa Backen, Amber Youso, Beth Baufield, Cassandra Grimm, their families, and several nieces & nephews.

Dee will live forever in our hearts until we see her again in glory!

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Libby. 

Visitation will be from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to noon Thursday at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.