Mary Helen Danforth

Mary Helen Danforth found her greatest joy being with family. She loved sharing her hobbies and talents with her husband, five children, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was happiest spending time with her family working in her garden, hiking, skiing and traveling. Mary Helen Danforth, 78, was surrounded by her loving and grateful family as she went to be with her Lord and Savior after a long battle with a progressive pulmonary disease on April 26, 2016, in Bozeman, Montana.

Mary was born Jan. 14, 1938, to Helen Louise Ryan (Patterson) and Clement James Ryan of Billings, Montana. She was educated in Billings at Frat Elementary School and Billings Central Catholic High. She persevered through many hardships in her life including polio, the loss of her father as a young girl, her mother shortly after her High School graduation, and the death of her son Jon Joel in 1997.

Mary attended the University of Montana and earned her pharmacy degree in 1961. She met and married her husband of 55 years, Terry, while attending the University of Montana. After graduation, they moved to Yellowstone Park where they lived for 32 years. They resided throughout the park, including Old Faithful, Bechler, West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs for the last 19 years. While living in the park, she and her family had many wild and rambunctious family outings, including: backpacking, canoeing, cross-country and alpine skiing, and vacationing throughout the country. She especially enjoyed spending time on their property along the Gallatin River where she and Terry eventually retired.

During her time in the park Mary worked as a pharmacist in West Yellowstone and Gardiner. She served the Gardiner community tirelessly for 19 years as manager and pharmacist of the Gardiner Drug Store. After moving to Bozeman when Terry retired in 1996, Mary worked as a relief pharmacist at MSU, Costco and Albertsons Osco in Belgrade. She took great joy in helping others and people appreciated her expertise and compassion.

Upon her own retirement, Mary enjoyed being active. She and Terry traveled and spent time in England, Ireland and Australia. Closer to home, they traveled in the Southwestern United States, the Canadian Rockies and the Oregon Coast and felt fortunate to have vacationed in the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii with some of their children. Mary was an avid hiker, birder, and gardener. She especially enjoyed walks with their Siberian Husky, Mystic. Mary found great strength in her Catholic faith. She was a member of the Holy Rosary Parish and enjoyed participating in the Thursday Ladies Bible Study Group led by Father Leo Proxell.

Mary was a selfless and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and put everyone's needs before her own. Mary's five children were her pride and joy. Her kindness and quiet strength was an inspiration to her family and those who knew her. She will be dearly missed.

Mary was preceded in death by her son Jon Joel, her parents and her Aunt, Arlene Walrath. She is survived by her husband Terry of Bozeman; son Luke (Linda) of Buffalo, Wyoming, son Christopher (Elisia St. Clair Danforth) of Bakersfield, California, daughter Mary Buenz (Steve) of Bigfork, and daughter Rebecca (Chris Bosshardt) of Cody, Wyoming; grandchildren Meghan O'Mara (Billy), Nathan (Pam Darrow), McKenzie, Amy, Eric (Kelcy), Joshua St. Clair, Brittany St. Clair, Sophie St. Clair, Nicholas Buenz, Alex Buenz, Audrey Buenz, Hayden Bosshardt and Sage Bosshardt; great-grandchildren Kaleb Danforth-Hurtado, Grady O'Mara and Daxton O'Mara; her sister Carolyn Shippert (Roger) of Richland Washington; her cousins Jack Walrath (Linda) of Missoula and Jim Walrath (Chris) of Deer Lodge.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, May 16, 2016, at Bozeman Holy Rosary followed by a gathering of family and friends at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent in Mary's memory to the Catholic Relief Services or the charity of their choice.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com