Gayetta M. Mader

Gayetta Mader, age 101, of Biddle, Montana passed away on September 9, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Gayetta Maurine Mader was born September 6, 1918. She was adopted as an infant by Lester and Estella (Thrailkill) Kellogg. She spent her early years in Idaho and Montana as her dad moved around often for work. Maurine lost her dad in an accident when she was 7 and three years later her mom was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Expecting to have a short life, Estella arranged for Maurine to grow up in Mooseheart, City of the Child, a home for children of Moose Lodge members, near Chicago. However, Estella did not lose her battle with TB and showed up to Mooseheart on Maurine's 15th birthday to take her home. She always said it was the best birthday present ever! Maurine returned home and lived with her mother and grandmother on their homestead until her mother got married to Andy Jones. She completed high school in Broadus and earned her teaching degree in Billings at Eastern Montana College. She returned to the Biddle area, teaching at Blacktail and Bay Horse schools. Maurine married John Thomas "Tom" Mader August 27, 1938. As their family grew, they built a larger home together moving from the "old place" to the current house in 1950. In the mid-90's Maurine was introduced to a biological cousin Fran and enjoyed getting to know her. Maurine invested deeply in her family, raising 6 children while gardening, sewing, caring for pets, tending chickens and living ranch life. She collected and recorded weather information daily for over 40 years, receiving recognition from the National Weather Service in 2003.

Maurine loved music and played piano both for enjoyment and for church. One of the things she especially enjoyed was having everyone home together and making music. In her later years after Tom passed away, Maurine enjoyed opportunities to travel, visiting Omaha, Nebraska most often. She spent time with Patsy, Steve and Danny enjoying music, the busyness of the city and being together. Maurine loved her family and was a wonderful mom, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

Gayetta was preceded in death by her husband John Thomas "Tom" Mader, sons Harold Glen and John Thomas "Tommy" Mader and grandson Terry Mader. She is survived by daughters Mina Chapman of Cheyenne, WY and Patsy (Steve) Sabra of Omaha, NE, sons Doug (Ellen) Mader of Tulsa, OK and Dave (Donna) Mader of Biddle, MT, 18 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren and 1 great-great-great grandchild.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Bible Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Bowers Creek Cemetery at Biddle. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: http://www.stevensonandsons.com.