Alexis Anne Rausch

1953 - 2022

Alexis Anne Rausch

Alexis Anne Rausch, 68 years of age, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Good Friday, April 15th 2022. While not particularly religious in her life…. Lexi sure would have gotten a kick out of knowing she showed up to Heaven on what surely must be the best day of year for that sort of thing… if there must be one.

Matriarch of the Frenchtown Rausch family, compassionate caregiver, Lexi will leave behind a legacy of generosity. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Kevin, and her parents, John and Shirley Cramer of Polson. Lexi is survived by her older brother Bill (Marge) Cramer, her sisters - Suz (Dave) Rittenhouse & Carol (Dave) Knight and her younger brother, David Cramer. Lexi is also survived by her three sons. Eldest, Kyle (Racquel) and his children - Keilen, Khloe and Stella. Her son Kris (Richae) and their two sons, Noah and Gus. And her youngest son Kurt (Christina) and his children - Avery and her son Paul, McKenna and Kaine.

Born December 28th, 1953, Lexi was the 4th of 5 children born into the Cramer family. She and her siblings grew up in the Salish Court neighborhood, adjacent to Sentinel HS. Lexi always recalled growing up in the "early" days in Missoula. She'd muse about how kids could ride their bikes across open countryside all the way to the South Hills… wheels rattling over nothing but dirt two tracks.

A tom boy more into sports than other girls her age, Lexi always looked back fondly on her childhood growing up in Missoula. A proud daughter of an WWII Army Veteran, her father a ski trooper of the 10th Mountain Division, she naturally enjoyed skiing. She spoke a lot about their time spent up Marshall Grade. During the summers, they'd all pitch in to help clear new runs in return for a family ski pass. She loved re-telling hilarious family stories about the early days up at Marshall.

Lexi attended Sentinel HS with her best friend in the world, Cheryl Cooley (Zymliska), another Salish Court kid. As generally recalled by those who knew them both back then; they were a dynamic duo. Never short on fun, hijinks guaranteed, Cheryl would remain a close friend to Lexi all her life.

After graduating high school Lexi met her forever love, Kevin Rausch, playing women's rec league softball. Kevin had agreed to coach this new all-women's softball team by his older brother Marty. "Since it was a good cause in all!" he'd say every time with a sly smile. Well as it turns out… it was the best coaching decision he ever made. The couple was married on April 3rd, 1976. It wasn't long before the boys arrived in quick fashion as the family settled down on family property out on Petty Creek, in Alberton. Lexi and Kevin were partners in every sense; they were inseparable and while the boys kept them busy, Lexi enjoyed the chaos and adventure of their family life.

Lexi always had a passion for the outdoors and sports. A passion she passed down to her boys through active participation. Family hunting trips to Eastern Montana were an annual affair. "She's got a reputation for leg shootin'!" Kevin would tease. Lexi would always quip right back that at least she was a better duck hunter than him, citing the time it was she who brought down the lone mallard with a single shot from her little .410 shotgun. This after both her husband and her brother jumped up out of the duck blind early, only to miss with their "big guns" as she would say.

Tragedy struck the family in 1993 when Lexi's husband was paralyzed from the chest down in a terrible logging accident. While a devastating blow to the family, it became a testament to the love Lexi had for Kevin as she took on her most important role yet as a full-time caregiver. Kevin in turn was able to live out another 19 years of his life under the attentive care he received from Lexi.

Even though she was a full-time care giver, Lexi was still able to find time for sports and the outdoors with her boys. She and Kevin were a regular sight at King Ranch Golf Course. She even managed to play a few seasons of co-rec softball with her sons and take Kevin on his final hunting trip over east where true to form, she surprised everyone when she bagged a final antelope with only Kevin at her side.

The years she gave to Kevin allowed him to be present while all three of his sons grew up, excelled at Frenchtown High School, and went off to play college football. No matter how far away the road game for the Western Bulldogs; when the boys were on the field, Lexi made sure she and Kevin were there to root them on. She gave her heart and soul to keep the family whole and thriving throughout overwhelming challenges. She never complained, never broke, not once. She will be missed in this world.

An celebration of Lexi's life will be held at the Alberton Community Center in Alberton, MT on June 10th at 12PM. A final shout out to an original of the Dailey's Bacon co-rec softball crew, one last hog call… SOOEY-SOOEY-HOGS-HOGS-HOGS! In lieu of donations or flowers, the family simply askes for all to remember the kindness and generosity that Lexi embodied and to pay it forward as they say. As it was when Lexi was here… all are welcome to stop in, the door will be open. Share a laugh or two, tell a funny story (or a sad one if it suits you) and just say "Goodbye, Lex!".