Ramona Valentine McAuley Yockim

Stevensville - Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Ramona Valentine McAuley Yockim (96) passed away Friday, September 11, 2015 at Bitterroot Living Centre in Stevensville, Mont. She was surrounded by her daughter, Janice Jacobson, and granddaughters Jackie Jacobson-Holdsambeck, and Bonnie Coleman.

She was born to Bernhard and Helen Clausen, April 23, 1919, of the Content Community, south of Malta, Mont. She attended grades 1-8 in the Content Country School; graduating from Malta High School. She attended and graduated from Northern Montana College. She met her first husband, Edward McAuley through her college roommate and his sister Lolo McAuley (Anderson).

They moved around often after their marriage. The stops included Washington, and Big Sandy, Malta and Chester Mont., where they owned the International Harvester Business for several years. Chester is where she went back to work as the secretary to the superintendent of the Chester Schools. Their next move was to Havre, where she joined her husband in the insurance and real estate business for a few years. She later went to work in the business office of Sacred Heart Hospital, and then became a Case Manager for the Hill County Welfare office. After that position, she worked for Farmers Insurance Group and finally worked part-time on the extra board for the Great Northern Railroad.

She worked tirelessly as a 4-H leader while her children were growing up, and was well respected as a seamstress and judge. Her greatest personal accomplishment was becoming Local President of the Havre Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary and then President of the State Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary. As State President, she visited all the local Eagles Clubs. She also used her gift as a seamstress and refitted all of her gowns, purchased at thrift stores, to wear for each occasion. Her travels included Hong Kong, The Hawaiian Islands, the Scandinavian countries and much of the United States. She retained pass privileges with Northwest Orient Airlines and became very well- known with employees on the system.

Ramona is survived by her children: Robert McAuley, wife Charlene (Bunnie) of Havre, MT; Bernie McAuley, wife Linda of Olympia, Wash. ,; Janice Jacobson of Missoula, Mont., and Gerry McAuley, wife Sally of Shoreline, Wash., Ten grandchildren: Bobbi McCormick, Bonnie Coleman, Belinda Hanson, Melissa McAuley, Dale McAuley, Dean McAuley, Mark Jensen, Jamie McAuley, Ben McAuley, Joe Jacobson, and Jackie Holdsambeck. Great-grandchildren: Tara, Chance, Cody, Shelby, Austin, Ashley, Jasmine, Raven, Collin, Cooper, Jayden, Jayce, Kaylee, Henry and Hannah.

Ramona was preceded in death by husbands: Edward McAuley, John Yockim, and her very good friend and dancing and music partner, Chuck Zortman.

A memorial service was held Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Saint Jude's Catholic Church in Havre, Mont. with interment in Malta at the Montana Cemetery family plot. A reception followed the memorial at the Catholic School reception Hall. A special thanks to the staff at the Bitterroot Living Center and Hospice Care for their special care of our mother during her last couple of days on this earth. Donations may be made to Saint Jude's School in Havre, Mont., in her name. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at http://www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.