DEWEY (QUIGLEY) SLATTEN

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, Dewey Slatten, beloved wife and mother of two children, passed away at the age of 91 in Eureka, Montana.  She was born November 15, 1928 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas to John and Lena (Murphy) Quigley. Her family then moved to Missouri and then later Tracy, California when she was in second grade.

Dewie met her husband Bernard while she was working in Modesto, California. He was looking at a room to rent with a friend, and was about to say, “No, thank you!” when she walked in to the house wearing blue jeans and carrying groceries.  Instead, he said, “We’ll take it!” They were married in Tracy on September 10, 1950, and moved directly to Chico, California, where they lived until 1988 and raised their two children, Susan and Steven. In Chico, most of their time was spent on a 10 acre almond ranch. After her children were grown, Dewie worked at Oser's linen shop in Chico. Soon after Barney retired, they moved to Paradise, California. When he passed away, she eventually moved to Montana to be closer to family. 

Dewie’s mom named her after an admired female politician in Arkansas. Her most recalled memories of childhood center around an old billy goat that pulled her and her siblings to school on a sled in the winter, and ate her schoolbooks. It was also her job as a child to churn the butter. In Tracy, Dewie was very involved in their church, and sang in a trio at churches throughout central California. She taught Sunday school the entire time her children were growing up, and was an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed traveling, quilting and crossword puzzles, nice shoes and blazers, eating peaches, strawberries and homemade vanilla ice cream, and collecting antiques, especially oak furniture, beautiful dishes and glass candlesticks. She was famous for her amazing homemade jam and pies. She cared deeply for both of her children and she knew how to have fun. Every grandchild has happy memories of going to “gram’s” house.

Dewie was preceded in death by her father John, her mother Lena, her brother Dale, her sister June, her husband Bernard, and her son Steven.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Susan and Brian Miller, her four grandchildren Holly, Brendan, Erik, and Katherine, six great-grandchildren, her sisters Jewell, Phyllis and Cheryll, and ten nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on August 1, 2020, at the Troy Cemetery, 11 o’clock a.m., with a picnic afterwards at Roosevelt Park in Troy, Montana. Flowers and cards may be sent to the Miller’s at 445 Riverside Ave in Troy, MT, 59935. Donations in her name may be sent to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences may be made at www.schnackenbergfh.com.

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