I was saddened to read in the Eagle about the passing of Tootie Boggs. My brother Charles had already told me about her when he saw it online in the Miles City Star. Tootie was a real friend and fixture in the lives of all of the Lavell children. !thought about writing this as a letter to the editor but decided to make a story about it instead.

Tootie was born in 1933, approximately a year before my oldest sister Dorothy. When we moved to Ekalaka from the country in 1944, the Boggs’ lived right down the road from us. Tootie became a friend and playmate with Dorothy. Then, because of her being mentally challenged, she went right down the line of Lavell kids, playing with each in tum. This went from Dorothy, four years older than I, to Charles, seven years younger. Everyone knew about Tootie's problem but we loved her just the same. She was a very sweet girl and lady.

Tootie went to school but of course didn't do well in it. I really don't know but I think that as she got older they sent her to some kind of special school and then I think she actually had a job in Miles City for awhile. I don't know anything about this of my own knowledge.

She almost always went to church and Sunday School with us. Tootie had a problem in that she didn't have many inhibitions about behavior in church or school. She had a habit of passing gas loudly at times. All of us have had that problem at times, but we try to not do it. Once when I was probably in my fifties I passed gas in church. Luckily I was toward the back so there were no implications except that the small boys sitting behind me thought that it was the funniest thing that ever happened. If anyone is offended about me telling the passing gas story, I apologize. Anyway we all loved Tootie.

Her brother, Robert, was my good friend but otherwise we were not close to the Boggs family except Tootie. She had a twin brother Lawrence; Florence and Lawrence. She also had a number of other brothers and sisters. I met her sister a few years ago at the nursing home when I had the rare privilege to go and see Tootie. She seemed tickled to see me and I was sure happy to see her.

One time Charles, my brother, and Tootie were playing together. We couldn't find them and we almost hit the panic button walking and driving all around looking for them. We finally found them some ways out of town, on the road that led to the old slaughterhouse. Charles said that he didn't know why we were so upset, he wasn't lost, he knew exactly where he was. He was probably four.

Tootie knew the Lord and I fully expect to see her in heaven one of these days when I go to join her there. I believe that she will no longer be mentally challenged but fully functional. It was a privilege knowing her.