Lorena Avis Rouse 77, of Helena Montana, passed away at home on Friday November 1, 2013, from congestive heart failure. She was born on December 1, 1935 in Scott City Kansas to Herman Patrick and Versa Helen Ryan. Lorena or Avis, as she was known to friends and family, was the youngest of six children. Her siblings include Rex Ryan, Nora Patten, Lois Ryder, Bill Ryan and Bonnie Anderson. When she was very young her family moved to Pocatello Idaho, where she was raised. She had many stories that she shared about growing up in Pocatello. As a kid she loved to roller skate and dance. She enjoyed school and always liked to have fun. Avis graduated from Pocatello High School in 1953 and started work as a Dental Assistant and later as a secretary for the Army Reserve. In 1955 she met Roger Rouse and they married on June 3rd 1956 in Pocatello Idaho. After her marriage to Roger she travelled around the country with him as he pursued his boxing career, where they had many adventures and lots of funny stories that she continued to share throughout her life. They lived in Portland Oregon, San Jose California and Bozeman Montana before returning to Roger’s hometown of Anaconda Montana in the late 1960s, to raise their three sons. They remained in Anaconda until 1992 when they moved back to Pocatello, Idaho. They lived there for three years before returning to Montana to be near their family in Helena in 1995.
Avis enjoyed reading, playing pinochle, watching golf and baking; specializing in pies, homemade bread and a delicious chocolate cake. Avis had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh and always had an entertaining story. She also had a strong unshakeable faith and she could be a little stubborn. This stubbornness was clearly displayed in 2002 when she slipped in her kitchen while making her wonderful chocolate cake and broke her ankle. The doctor said she would need surgery that would require some metal and screws to fix her ankle. Avis refused the surgery and told the doctors to just set her ankle the best they could and put a cast on it. The doctors tried to change her mind but could not, so they did as she requested and to everyone’s surprise she healed up just fine.
Avis is survived by her sons Bill and Cash Rouse, daughters in law Toni and Bonnie Rouse, grandchildren Courtney, Robin, Cassandra and Joseph Rouse, great grandchildren Dakota Anderson and Shaedyn Rouse all of Helena Montana, her brother Bill Ryan of Tucson Arizona, sisters Bonnie Anderson of Pocatello Idaho and Lois Ryder of Boise Idaho, brothers in law Don Rouse of Sacramento California, James Rouse of Anaconda Montana and Larry Anderson of Pocatello Idaho, sisters in law Teryl Rouse, Mariann Earhart Rouse and Ruth Ann Rouse all of Anaconda Montana, Emily Lopez of Sacramento California and Mary Ryan of Tucson Arizona and many nieces and nephews, grand and great nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
Avis was preceded in death by her husband Roger Rouse (March 1999), son Matthew Rouse (March 1987), brother Rex Ryan (April 1988) and sister Nora Patten (March 1999).
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday November 8th, at the Retz Funeral Home. A reception will immediately follow the Service at the Funeral Home. Memorial in Avis’s name may be sent to Hospice of St. Peter’s Light a Life Program, c/o St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Avis. The family would like to thank everyone at St Peters hospital for their care, compassion and professionalism with a special thanks to the caregivers of Hospice of St Peters, you are all wonderful.
Leisa Radley says
“We keep in out hearts forever the memories of those we have loved.”
May it help in your time of sadness to know I am thinking of you and share your sorrow.
I am so sorry for your loss….
Sincerely,
Leisa Radley
Davee Letford says
Dear Billy and Cash,
So many wonderful memories from many years ago living across the lane from you in
Opportunity. Your mom truly was an angel sent to earth to care and comfort so many.
There will never be another like her in our lives. We are thinking of you and sharing your
sorrow.
Sincerely,
Davee, Kim, Kara, and Mike