May 24, 2023

​Roberta Dolores Ryan 
June 5, 1937 - May 13, 2023

Roberta Dolores (Dodie) Ryan, 85, died in her home on May 13.
Dodie was born in Deer Lodge on June 5, 1937, to Bob and Dorothy Johnson. She grew up in Deer Lodge with her four siblings and many cousins. She grew up with a village of people including her grandmothers, aunts, uncles and Dad. Her mother died when she was 7, but her village was always there.
As a teenager she moved to the Spokane area, where she lived her young adult life and raised her four children. She worked as a Nurses Aide in nursing homes, and the last 15 years she worked she took care of people so they could stay in their homes. She always said this was her way to give back to Grandma Giles. Her love and compassion for older people never went away.
In 1979 she married Bill Ryan and they lived a long life together. They lived in various areas in Washington. They moved to Indiana where they lived for 18 years. At retirement they moved back to her beloved Montana. She felt lucky to be able to live in a family home in Elliston for the last nine years.
She loved to sew, making many creative and wonderful things. She loved plants and had a green thumb. She was a member of the Garrison church and loved her family there. She loved her furbabies and is missed by them.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Ryan; her children, Danny Ralph (Dee), Dorie Morris (Steve); eight grandchildren; and many great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Edna Leamer (Pat), Robin Franks Curtis (Tom) and RC Johnson; as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Dorothy Johnson; her sister, Joyce Cummings; and her sons, Darren Ralph and Dale Ralph.
A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. on June 3 at the Garrison Church with luncheon to follow.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Spokane at noon on July 22 at Fish Lake with picnic food.
Donations can be made to the Garrison Church or the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
A special thank you to Sandy Jones and Sharon Sheets for all the support and love that has been given to our family.

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Mark Allen Moody
​ November 30, 1969 - December 10, 2021

Mark Allen Moody was born in Deer Lodge on Nov. 30, 1969, to James Moody and Maureen Gersitz. He was the youngest of five children, with three sisters and one brother. Mark enjoyed family outings such as camping, picnics and traveling to see extended family; many out-of-state trips.
In 1988, Mark graduated from Powell County High School in Deer Lodge. He held different positions in the Deer Lodge area, including serving as an EMT for several years. In 1995, Mark and April Prosenick were married in Anaconda. Together they had three beautiful children, Josh, Nicolas and Alisyn.
Mark joined the National Guard in 1997, went into active duty in 1998 and retired in 2017. During his military service, Mark traveled worldwide, to the Middle East and several states. His family would join him at state bases. Mark served during some of the most challenging times the U.S. has seen. He was very proud to have served his nation and protected others and even presidents when they visited military bases.
During these trying times, Mark and April divorced. Mark had served for 19 years and eight months, and had settled in Kansas. He moved to Texas to be closer to family there, and then in 2021, he moved back to Montana to be closer to his siblings and other family.
Mark had depression and PTSD, unseen illnesses that he fought hard for a long time. Despite many years of battling these mental illnesses, Mark died on December 10, 2021. He is so loved and missed by many people; we wish him peace and happiness.
Mark is survived by his siblings, Suzie (Don) Marshall, Debi (George) McClain, Karl (Heidi) Gersitz; his three children and two grandchildren, Josh (Gisele) Moody and Alexander and Ayla; Nicolas (Janna) Moody, and Alisyn Moody; and their mother, April. Many nieces, nephews, and extended family members also survive and will miss him.
Mark is preceded in death by his mother, Maureen (June 2018); his father, James (2022); his sister, Khandi (September 2022); grandparents, Fern and Clyde McCleary.
Mark’s final resting place is beside his mother, Maureen, at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge.
The Celebration of Life ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on June 24, at the Elks Club in Deer Lodge. Please join and share your stories.
Memorial donations can be made to Montana American Cancer, P.O. Box 20893, Billings, MT 59104 or to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, 1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 or any donation of your choice in the care of Mark Moody.