Alice Val Jean Bowman

Alice Val Jean Bowman passed away on Feb. 24, 2008, in Round Rock, Texas.

Alice was born March 23, 1928, in Woodruff, Kan., one of 15 brothers and sisters.

After growing up on the family farm in Norcatur, Kan., she moved to Helena, where some of the Rohnke family members had relocated. While there, she worked for the state of Montana and decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. She met the love of her life, Willis S. Bowman Jr., while both were enlisted. They married Aug. 17, 1954, in Yuma, Ariz. Willis died on July 25, 1966, while in Vietnam serving our country.

Her favorite pastime was playing bass guitar in a band with her sister, Kay Gustafson, and her brother-in-law, Ray Gustafson, in and around East Helena.

Alice had a love of Kansas University basketball and Seattle Mariners baseball, and would make it a point to watch whenever she could.

Alice and Willis made a vow to each other that their sons, William and Paul, would graduate from college and Alice devoted much of her time and effort to that promise. William graduated from Carroll College in Helena and was formerly a sports writer for the Independent Record. He's now the editor of Vegas Golfer Magazine in Las Vegas. Paul graduated from Montana State University and is a services delivery manager for Dell Computer in Austin, Texas.

Alice's strength, determination and laughter were our guiding force. She will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her son, William, and his wife, Cindy; son, Paul, and his wife, April; and three grandchildren, Paul Alexander, Madison Luana and Marshall William. Funeral services were held in Norcatur on March 31.