Missoula – Dorothy B. Yvonne (Brechbill) Maples went home to be with the Lord and Savior on March 5, 2023.
She was born January 23, 1927 in Stevensville, MT to Elton V. and Octavo L. (Brown) Brechbill.
Dorothy “Dot” graduated as a registered nurse from St. Patrick School of Nursing along with her sister Grace in 1949. Following that she worked for three years at Physicians and Surgeons Hospital in Portland, OR.
In 1952 she married Harvey “Bud” Maples and a year later returned to Montana after their first child was born. They resided at Seeley Lake for five years and then moved to Missoula where she worked several years at St. Patrick Hospital. The rest of her life was spent doing private duty in patients’ homes until she retired.
Dorothy grew up on a ranch in the Bitterroot up Ambrose. She was making bread at age nine. She said we all had our duties since there were 10 children.
Ambrose school was on family property. Dorothy did two years of correspondence, then finished two more years of high school. She worked at the Tamaracks in Seeley Lake the summer of 1946 to finish paying for training. One of the cabins at the Tamaracks is named “Dot” after her.
Dorothy so enjoyed having family and friends over for dinner. What a wonderful cook and pie maker she was. She always had dessert to serve any one who came to the house.
She loved being a caretaker and always put others before herself. Dorothy took care of her roommates in her home at Riverside Health Care Center. Everyone there loved her so, always remarking about what a sweet, kind soul she was.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved husband “Bud” and a grandson, Wroudy Stephens, her parents, Elton and Octavo Brechbill, her brothers, Ted, Charles, Henry and Frank Brechbill, her sisters, Martha Randles, Rose Lewis, Ione McCormick, Ellen Turner and Grace Christensen.
She is survived by her three children, Mike (Linda) Maples, Debbie Parks, Anita Scothorn; six grandchildren, Brian (Anna) Maples, Chris (Cozeena) Maples, Teresa (Tony) Larson, Lacey (Jake) Kuntz and Victoria (Drue) McCawley; five great-grandchildren, James Maples, Aaliyah and Aurora Kuntz, Ethan and Devin Larson and one on the way; many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Stevensville this spring. The day and time will be announced. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
Leona Wood Clatworthy says
Out of 50 first cousins only four remain. I have many good memories as a little child going to Aunt Octie’s and Uncle Elt’s tp be with our cousins. Dot was special (although we always called her Yvonne).
The families are in our prayers.