Emma Rose DeVries Storer

JOLIET - Emma Rose DeVries Storer passed on July 16, 2011, at the age of 72.

She was born October 27, 1938, in Laurel, the second eldest daughter of Herman and Amanda DeVries. For the first 9 years of her life, Emma was raised on Cow Creek near Boyd attending Victory School. The family then moved to the DeVries Homestead near Roberts where Emma graduated from Roberts High School in 1956. She went on to attend Billings Business College. In 1961, Emma married William Storer in Cody. They spent their life together until Bill's passing in 2006.

Emma and Bill lived in Billings until 1981. They then built a home between Joliet and Rockvale where they lived until Bill's passing. Emma's remaining years were spent at Highgate Senior Living and Aspen Meadows. Bill and Emma were very proud of their home in Joliet and spent countless hours working in the yard and garden. Among other jobs, Emma was most proud of working as the business manager at Steiner Corporation in Billings for over 25 years, retiring in 1992.

Emma was an avid sports fan. She loved to watch her nieces and nephews in all sporting events and was a devoted fan of the Roberts Rockets. She especially loved Class C basketball, the Denver Broncos  and baseball. During the winter, Emma, together with her sister Beverly, would brave the snowy, icy and dangerous roads to see a Roberts Rockets basketball game. In the old gym at Roberts, Emma and Beverly had their seats and nobody better be sitting in them.

Emma also loved animals. She was especially fond of her dogs throughout the years including Smokey, Peppy, and Roxy. She loved to ride motorcycles, play pinochle, have ice cream cones, go camping, and drive the back roads to see what was going on. She loved a good cup of coffee and a piece of pie with family or a neighbor.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents (Herman and Amanda), her husband Bill Storer, her sister Beverly (Carl) Alt, and her brother Herman (Lola) DeVries.

She is survived by a sister Loretta (Art) Kilwein, a sister Gladys (Charlie) Weimer, and a sister Marcella (Ray) Bucholz. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who all loved her dearly.

Emma will be missed and remembered always.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, in the Roberts United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Roberts Cemetery. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge assisted with the arrangements.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff and nurses at Highgate Senior Living and Aspen Meadows for their kindness, compassion, and assistance.

Donations in Emma's name can be made to the Beartooth Humane Alliance, P.O. Box 2333, Red Lodge, MT 59068, or a charity of your choice.

Emma Storer