Dewey Slatten, 91

On July 15, 2020, Dewey Slatten, beloved wife and mother of two children, passed away at the age of 91 in Eureka. She was born Nov. 15, 1928, in Eureka Springs, Ark., to John and Lena (Murphy) Quigley. Her family then moved to Missouri and then later Tracy, Calif., when she was in second grade.

Dewie met her husband, Bernard, while she was working in Modesto, Calif. He was looking at a room to rent with a friend, and was about to say, “No, thank you” when she walked in to the house wearing blue jeans and carrying groceries. Instead, he said, “We’ll take it!”

They were married in Tracy on Sept. 10, 1950, and moved to Chico, California, where they lived until 1988. There, they raised their two children, Susan and Steven. In Chico, most of their time was spent on a 10-acre almond ranch. After her children were grown, Dewie worked at Oser’s linen shop. Soon after Barney retired, they moved to Paradise, Calif. When he passed away, she moved to Montana to be closer to family.

Dewie’s mom named her after an admired female politician in Arkansas. Her most recalled memories of childhood center around an old billy goat that pulled her and her siblings to school on a sled in the winter, and ate her schoolbooks. It was also her job, as a child, to churn the butter.

In Tracy, Dewie was very involved in their church, and sang in a trio at churches throughout central California. She taught Sunday school while her children grew up, and was an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed traveling, quilting and crossword puzzles, nice shoes and blazers, eating peaches, strawberries and homemade vanilla ice cream, and collecting antiques, especially oak furniture, beautiful dishes and glass candlesticks. She was famous for her amazing homemade jam and pies. She cared deeply for both of her children and she knew how to have fun. Every grandchild has happy memories of going to “gram’s” house.

Dewie was preceded in death by her father, John; her mother, Lena; her brother, Dale; her sister June; her husband, Bernard; and her son, Steven.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Brian Miller; her four grandchildren, Holly, Brendan, Erik, and Katherine; six great-grandchildren; her sisters, Jewell, Phyllis and Cheryll; and 10 nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Aug. 1, 2020, at the Troy Cemetery. A picnic will follow at Roosevelt Park in Troy.

Flowers and cards may be sent to the Miller’s at 445 Riverside Ave. in Troy, MT, 59935. Donations in her name may be sent to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences may be made at www.schnackenbergfh.com.