RosaLee Phyllis Switzler, 81

RosaLee Phyllis Stoskopf was born Nov. 29, 1927, in Warroad, Minn., to Alfred and Rose Stoskopf. She had two sisters, Theowen and Joan, brothers, Donald and Bill, and half brother, Overby. She grew up on the family farm near Warroad and learned all about growing a garden, canning, and generally being self-sufficient as a family through lots of hard work. Following World War II, she married Walter Styler in July of 1947. Walter built a home near Williams and they began raising a family there. In 1956 the family of six (four children) loaded up a few of their belongings in a 1947 Fraser and moved to Montana to seek new opportunity in the Swan Valley area after two of Walt s brothers sent back reports of work available there. One more daughter was born in Montana, bringing the number of children to five. RosaLee was an excellent cook and homemaker and is still remembered for her cinnamon rolls, lemon meringue pie, and fried bread dough on bake days, to name just a few. She made countless delicious meals with wild meat and gravy. She was also handy with a needle and thread and sewing machine, and there was always lots of clothing to either make or put patches on. She enjoyed visiting with neighbors and friends at all times, and back before telephones, people stopped more often to visit it seemed. Walter and RosaLee were divorced in 1968. Once the kids were all on their own, RosaLee worked for a season as a cook for an outfitter (Bud Smith) during the fall hunting season in the Bob Marshall wilderness. Once again her cooking was appreciated and she also got to see some new country. She later married Mel Switzler in August 1989. Mel filled a void in her life in a wonderful way after a period of uncertainty and searching on her part. They traveled, went fishing, and enjoyed lots of things she had missed out on earlier in life while raising a family. Mel and RosaLee remained together, living in the Echo Lake area, until her passing. RosaLee loved the simple things of life and especially liked family reunions and picnics that brought her family and friends together. More than anything else she was a hardworking, devoted mom, who asked very little for herself and devoted practically her entire life to the service of her family. RosaLee passed away on the evening of Nov. 28, 2009, just one day before her 82nd birthday, at the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork, where she was cared for from Sept. 9 onward. Survivors include her husband, Mel Switzler; three daughters, Roselyn and Lynn Carey of Seeley Lake, Kathy and Silvestre Rodriguez of Bigfork, and Cindy and Stan Buresh of Fairfield; two sons, Jim and Jennifer Styler of Highland, Utah, and Randy and Denise Styler of Condon; sisters, Theowen and Harold Thortsen of Williams, Minn., and Harriett Dagg of Chicago; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. RosaLee was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Bill and Donald; half brother, Overby; and one sister, Joan. Cremation had been previously chosen by RosaLee and will be carried out by Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell. A memorial service to honor and celebrate her life is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at Bigfork Chapel Assembly of God at 290 Swan Highway in Bigfork.