Cecile Marie Rathbun

Cecile Marie Rathbun, 81, passed away peacefully October 27,2021 from health issues at Dixie Hospital in St. George, Utah.
She was born to Ralph Dell Coulter and Ann Marie (Hood) Coulter in Missoula, MT on April 24, 1940.
As a small child, she had many adventures at the family's home by McDonald Lake near St. Ignatius, where she attended the Ursuline Catholic School. The family later moved into Charlo, MT where she would later graduate high school May of 1958. In June of 1958 she married Danny Leroy Arends and out of that union had three children, Dennis Michele Arends (Jolene), William Troy Arends (Flora), and Shelley Arends Samsel (Steve). She later met and married Clark Lewis Choate and had two children, Fredrick Lewis Choate (Rayanne) and Shawna Rae Choate (Chico) Rodriguez. They later divorced. On July 29, 1979 She went on to marry the love of her life, Denver Duane Rathbun where she welcomed his 4 children Dennis Rathbun (Kathy), Terry Rathbun (Meredith), Richard Rathbun and Jeff Rathbun (Marissa) into her family.
Although Cecile worked hard at many jobs throughout her life, her primary job was a homemaker. Some fond memories were of her baking bread in their small oven inside juice cans. She would make 27 loaves besides rolls, which was quite a feat. Cecile enjoyed cooking holiday family dinners and would often have 20-25 guests.
By far her greatest accomplishment was starting her own business, DeZign by Ceil. She loved to showcase her art by painting the beautiful Montana wildflowers, which she displayed on cards, paintings, as well as women's clothing. She had an artistic spirit from a young age, where she was crowned FFA Queen her sophomore year of high school. She loved to sew, crochet and embroider. She sewed her own clothes starting in high school, made her own wedding dress, she also sewed all her children's clothes until they reached the age that they would protest. Everyone loved the gifts she sewed and crochet. She made slippers and blankets for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well.
Denver and Cecile built and remodeled many houses in the Polson, MT area which led to the unmasking of her talent for interior design. There was not a painting technique she didn't try, in one way or another.
She loved to travel. Denver and she traveled cross country many times for major events in their children's lives, like Troy graduating from DeVries University in Phoenix, AZ, or down to Florida when Jeff graduated boot camp and went to become a Captain in the Navy. They also traveled just to get away. Unsure if it was to get away from the children or not but in any case, it was always a treat. She has logged many miles from St. George, UT to Polson Mt. In March 2018 she was invited by Jeff and Marissa to enjoy a beautiful visit to their home in Hawaii. Her last trip was to spend Christmas in Florida with her youngest daughter Shawna and her family. When she was younger, she would have never imagined a Christmas without snow, but as she would say, we get smarter as we get older.
She was very active in her community, where she enjoyed giving back by volunteering at her local churches thrift store and was also an active member of the local Red Hat Society, where she met some wonderful lifelong friends.
Anyone who knew Cecile, knew she was not one to sit still and needed to always be doing something. She defiantly did not let her age, or her illness slow her down one bit. She was a spit fire to the very end.
Cecile is survived by her sister Lamay Coulter Southam and her 5 children: Dennis, William Troy, Shelley, Fred, and Shawna; her 4 stepchildren: Denny, Terry, Richard, and Jeff; 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Cecile was proceeded in death by her husband Denver Rathbun, mother and father, Ralph and Ann Coulter, 2 sisters: Mary Shilleen Coulter Southam and Virgina Ann Coulter Schoonmaker.
Cecile's wishes were to go home to Montana, where the family will be having a celebration of her life in June of 2022, date to be determined. For her friends and family around St. George, Utah, there will be a service at Dixie Springs Park, 3605 2900 South, Hurricane, UT 84737 on 5 November, 2021 at 11:00 am.