Sandra Babcock Strong
1935 - 2013
Sandra Strong, 79, of Hamilton, Montana, passed away Nov. 15, 2013, at the Valley View Estates Nursing Home in Hamilton.
Sandra was a remarkable woman. We enjoyed life with an incredible wife and mother and have fond memories of her loving, creative and sharing self, not to the mention the "Momma Bear" she was when anyone messed with her family. Our lives are what they are because of her and we are who we are because of her… enriched. She opened our eyes to so much and offered up many opportunities for us to explore our worlds. She taught us to really see all that there was to see around us, to recognize beauty, appreciate solitude and take time to sit and enjoy it. She created beauty in our home, in the decorating, in the clothing she created, in the pictures she painted, in the gardens she grew, in the gourmet meals she created, and in the love she shared with her family and friends.
She filled the house with the unexpected. You never knew what was up when you walked through the door. There may be a skanky, poo-ridden sheep fleece soaking in the bathtub being readied for a spinning and weaving project, or a dilapidated piece of furniture on the patio bubbling with paint stripper that she would transform into a treasure, or fabric strewn everywhere and pins in the rug (Ouch!, we all had more than one of those stab us in the foot) signaling a new outfit from her sewing machine. Friends were warned not to sniff or taste what was bubbling away on the stove as it may not actually be food; lots of natural dyes were created on that stove.
You may have visited and found the huge Spruce trees in the back yard suddenly gone and a spectacular perennial garden in its place or you may have stopped by to find that she was off with friends enjoying the beautiful Bitterroot Valley that she loved: hiking, skiing, animal watching, or floating the river. She claimed Ward Mountain was "her mountain." Home, meant family and friends to her and her house was always open for a quick visit or a vibrant party. You never knew what she was going to be up to next, but it was always interesting and exciting.
Sandra had passionate stands on issues and wasn't afraid to voice her opinion or fight for what she believed in. She was most proud to have worked with the League of Women Voters to protect the Bitterroot River flood plain. She loved books, all books, and was one of few people that would actually sit and read a recipe book. She enjoyed traveling too. Most of her travels were around the Rocky Mountains, with one big memorable trip overseas to Russia. She talked often of that trip and especially of the trained porcupines in the circus that made her laugh.
She was fun, daring, encouraging, passionate, creative, thoughtful, intelligent, loving and wonderful! "She" passed away from herself and from us more than 25 years ago. A stroke stole not only her physical abilities, but also much of the spirit of who she was. In the intervening years she showed courage, resilience and strength in continuing to live her life with dignity. She is released from a body that failed and a mind that betrayed her to again ramble, explore and rejoice in beauty and love with her parents, Jack and Elsie Babcock, her in-laws, Clarence and Marie Strong and her son-in-law, Scott Smith. Husband, Richard, daughters, Stephanie Smith (Tony Latham) and Leslie Moore (Larry), grandchildren, Chris Smith and Emily Moore, brother, Jack Babcock, step-mother, Dorothy Babcock, sister-in-law, Merilyn Kraftenberg and many nieces and nephews, rejoice that she is now free.
No services are planned at this time. A gathering of family and friends will take place in the spring to celebrate Sandra's life.
Suggested memorials may be made to the Bitterroot Public Library at 306 State Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or the charity of your choice.
—Ravalli Republic | 19 Nov 2013
1935 - 2013
Sandra Strong, 79, of Hamilton, Montana, passed away Nov. 15, 2013, at the Valley View Estates Nursing Home in Hamilton.
Sandra was a remarkable woman. We enjoyed life with an incredible wife and mother and have fond memories of her loving, creative and sharing self, not to the mention the "Momma Bear" she was when anyone messed with her family. Our lives are what they are because of her and we are who we are because of her… enriched. She opened our eyes to so much and offered up many opportunities for us to explore our worlds. She taught us to really see all that there was to see around us, to recognize beauty, appreciate solitude and take time to sit and enjoy it. She created beauty in our home, in the decorating, in the clothing she created, in the pictures she painted, in the gardens she grew, in the gourmet meals she created, and in the love she shared with her family and friends.
She filled the house with the unexpected. You never knew what was up when you walked through the door. There may be a skanky, poo-ridden sheep fleece soaking in the bathtub being readied for a spinning and weaving project, or a dilapidated piece of furniture on the patio bubbling with paint stripper that she would transform into a treasure, or fabric strewn everywhere and pins in the rug (Ouch!, we all had more than one of those stab us in the foot) signaling a new outfit from her sewing machine. Friends were warned not to sniff or taste what was bubbling away on the stove as it may not actually be food; lots of natural dyes were created on that stove.
You may have visited and found the huge Spruce trees in the back yard suddenly gone and a spectacular perennial garden in its place or you may have stopped by to find that she was off with friends enjoying the beautiful Bitterroot Valley that she loved: hiking, skiing, animal watching, or floating the river. She claimed Ward Mountain was "her mountain." Home, meant family and friends to her and her house was always open for a quick visit or a vibrant party. You never knew what she was going to be up to next, but it was always interesting and exciting.
Sandra had passionate stands on issues and wasn't afraid to voice her opinion or fight for what she believed in. She was most proud to have worked with the League of Women Voters to protect the Bitterroot River flood plain. She loved books, all books, and was one of few people that would actually sit and read a recipe book. She enjoyed traveling too. Most of her travels were around the Rocky Mountains, with one big memorable trip overseas to Russia. She talked often of that trip and especially of the trained porcupines in the circus that made her laugh.
She was fun, daring, encouraging, passionate, creative, thoughtful, intelligent, loving and wonderful! "She" passed away from herself and from us more than 25 years ago. A stroke stole not only her physical abilities, but also much of the spirit of who she was. In the intervening years she showed courage, resilience and strength in continuing to live her life with dignity. She is released from a body that failed and a mind that betrayed her to again ramble, explore and rejoice in beauty and love with her parents, Jack and Elsie Babcock, her in-laws, Clarence and Marie Strong and her son-in-law, Scott Smith. Husband, Richard, daughters, Stephanie Smith (Tony Latham) and Leslie Moore (Larry), grandchildren, Chris Smith and Emily Moore, brother, Jack Babcock, step-mother, Dorothy Babcock, sister-in-law, Merilyn Kraftenberg and many nieces and nephews, rejoice that she is now free.
No services are planned at this time. A gathering of family and friends will take place in the spring to celebrate Sandra's life.
Suggested memorials may be made to the Bitterroot Public Library at 306 State Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or the charity of your choice.
—Ravalli Republic | 19 Nov 2013
Sandra Babcock Strong
1935 - 2013
Sandra Strong, 79, of Hamilton, Montana, passed away Nov. 15, 2013, at the Valley View Estates Nursing Home in Hamilton.
Sandra was a remarkable woman. We enjoyed life with an incredible wife and mother and have fond memories of her loving, creative and sharing self, not to the mention the "Momma Bear" she was when anyone messed with her family. Our lives are what they are because of her and we are who we are because of her… enriched. She opened our eyes to so much and offered up many opportunities for us to explore our worlds. She taught us to really see all that there was to see around us, to recognize beauty, appreciate solitude and take time to sit and enjoy it. She created beauty in our home, in the decorating, in the clothing she created, in the pictures she painted, in the gardens she grew, in the gourmet meals she created, and in the love she shared with her family and friends.
She filled the house with the unexpected. You never knew what was up when you walked through the door. There may be a skanky, poo-ridden sheep fleece soaking in the bathtub being readied for a spinning and weaving project, or a dilapidated piece of furniture on the patio bubbling with paint stripper that she would transform into a treasure, or fabric strewn everywhere and pins in the rug (Ouch!, we all had more than one of those stab us in the foot) signaling a new outfit from her sewing machine. Friends were warned not to sniff or taste what was bubbling away on the stove as it may not actually be food; lots of natural dyes were created on that stove.
You may have visited and found the huge Spruce trees in the back yard suddenly gone and a spectacular perennial garden in its place or you may have stopped by to find that she was off with friends enjoying the beautiful Bitterroot Valley that she loved: hiking, skiing, animal watching, or floating the river. She claimed Ward Mountain was "her mountain." Home, meant family and friends to her and her house was always open for a quick visit or a vibrant party. You never knew what she was going to be up to next, but it was always interesting and exciting.
Sandra had passionate stands on issues and wasn't afraid to voice her opinion or fight for what she believed in. She was most proud to have worked with the League of Women Voters to protect the Bitterroot River flood plain. She loved books, all books, and was one of few people that would actually sit and read a recipe book. She enjoyed traveling too. Most of her travels were around the Rocky Mountains, with one big memorable trip overseas to Russia. She talked often of that trip and especially of the trained porcupines in the circus that made her laugh.
She was fun, daring, encouraging, passionate, creative, thoughtful, intelligent, loving and wonderful! "She" passed away from herself and from us more than 25 years ago. A stroke stole not only her physical abilities, but also much of the spirit of who she was. In the intervening years she showed courage, resilience and strength in continuing to live her life with dignity. She is released from a body that failed and a mind that betrayed her to again ramble, explore and rejoice in beauty and love with her parents, Jack and Elsie Babcock, her in-laws, Clarence and Marie Strong and her son-in-law, Scott Smith. Husband, Richard, daughters, Stephanie Smith (Tony Latham) and Leslie Moore (Larry), grandchildren, Chris Smith and Emily Moore, brother, Jack Babcock, step-mother, Dorothy Babcock, sister-in-law, Merilyn Kraftenberg and many nieces and nephews, rejoice that she is now free.
No services are planned at this time. A gathering of family and friends will take place in the spring to celebrate Sandra's life.
Suggested memorials may be made to the Bitterroot Public Library at 306 State Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or the charity of your choice.
—Ravalli Republic | 19 Nov 2013
1935 - 2013
Sandra Strong, 79, of Hamilton, Montana, passed away Nov. 15, 2013, at the Valley View Estates Nursing Home in Hamilton.
Sandra was a remarkable woman. We enjoyed life with an incredible wife and mother and have fond memories of her loving, creative and sharing self, not to the mention the "Momma Bear" she was when anyone messed with her family. Our lives are what they are because of her and we are who we are because of her… enriched. She opened our eyes to so much and offered up many opportunities for us to explore our worlds. She taught us to really see all that there was to see around us, to recognize beauty, appreciate solitude and take time to sit and enjoy it. She created beauty in our home, in the decorating, in the clothing she created, in the pictures she painted, in the gardens she grew, in the gourmet meals she created, and in the love she shared with her family and friends.
She filled the house with the unexpected. You never knew what was up when you walked through the door. There may be a skanky, poo-ridden sheep fleece soaking in the bathtub being readied for a spinning and weaving project, or a dilapidated piece of furniture on the patio bubbling with paint stripper that she would transform into a treasure, or fabric strewn everywhere and pins in the rug (Ouch!, we all had more than one of those stab us in the foot) signaling a new outfit from her sewing machine. Friends were warned not to sniff or taste what was bubbling away on the stove as it may not actually be food; lots of natural dyes were created on that stove.
You may have visited and found the huge Spruce trees in the back yard suddenly gone and a spectacular perennial garden in its place or you may have stopped by to find that she was off with friends enjoying the beautiful Bitterroot Valley that she loved: hiking, skiing, animal watching, or floating the river. She claimed Ward Mountain was "her mountain." Home, meant family and friends to her and her house was always open for a quick visit or a vibrant party. You never knew what she was going to be up to next, but it was always interesting and exciting.
Sandra had passionate stands on issues and wasn't afraid to voice her opinion or fight for what she believed in. She was most proud to have worked with the League of Women Voters to protect the Bitterroot River flood plain. She loved books, all books, and was one of few people that would actually sit and read a recipe book. She enjoyed traveling too. Most of her travels were around the Rocky Mountains, with one big memorable trip overseas to Russia. She talked often of that trip and especially of the trained porcupines in the circus that made her laugh.
She was fun, daring, encouraging, passionate, creative, thoughtful, intelligent, loving and wonderful! "She" passed away from herself and from us more than 25 years ago. A stroke stole not only her physical abilities, but also much of the spirit of who she was. In the intervening years she showed courage, resilience and strength in continuing to live her life with dignity. She is released from a body that failed and a mind that betrayed her to again ramble, explore and rejoice in beauty and love with her parents, Jack and Elsie Babcock, her in-laws, Clarence and Marie Strong and her son-in-law, Scott Smith. Husband, Richard, daughters, Stephanie Smith (Tony Latham) and Leslie Moore (Larry), grandchildren, Chris Smith and Emily Moore, brother, Jack Babcock, step-mother, Dorothy Babcock, sister-in-law, Merilyn Kraftenberg and many nieces and nephews, rejoice that she is now free.
No services are planned at this time. A gathering of family and friends will take place in the spring to celebrate Sandra's life.
Suggested memorials may be made to the Bitterroot Public Library at 306 State Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 or the charity of your choice.
—Ravalli Republic | 19 Nov 2013
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