Sue Lautaret, 96
Sue Lautaret, 96, of Kalispell, died peacefully, at home from natural causes on Sept. 11, 2009. She was born Sarah Mae Schelembaum to Frank and Sophia Schelembaum, on Feb. 25, 1913, in Aden, Ill. She had four brothers and three sisters who helped run the family farm and ranch until 1926 when the family moved to Colorado.
Stronger than most men, Sue, along with her brothers, were cowhands on the ranch. To escape this life, she left the ranch in 1932 and moved to New York City with her aunt and uncle. There she met and married her first husband, Nick Petrino, while she worked various jobs earning to per hour during the Depression.
She was a personal assistant in private homes, made beautiful glass lamps in a lamp factory, and introduced jeans as the assembly line uniform at a wax paper cup factory to prevent the workers' dresses from catching in the machines.
In the early '40s, she moved back to Colorado and Nick stayed in New York. She worked in a Naturopathic doctor's office where she developed her lifelong interest in health and holistic medicine.
Following her divorce in 1944, her sister introduced her to Harold Lautaret. After returning from service in Japan in World War II, Harold married Sue in Albuquerque, N.M., in 1947. She became stepmother to Harold's daughter from his first marriage, Shirley Lautaret, who lived in Seattle.
Sue and Harold moved to Kalispell in 1947, where she lived the next 62 years of her life.
Sue had many enjoyments in life: her friends and family, hunting, fishing, gardening, playing cards, and traveling the country with Harold in their camper.
Sue was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold Lautaret; and her daughter, Shirley Jean Lautaret Benson.
She is survived by her three grandchildren, Cheryl Hoban, Kirk Benson and Karen Benson Hagopian; her five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The grandchildren would like to extend our thanks to Gordon and Barb Taylor, Bob and Ardell Casey, and her numerous neighbors and extended family members whose gracious help and attention enabled her to live in her own home throughout her later years of life.
"We know Sue is now lifting her glass of 'Lambruski' in a toast to her treasured family and friends, and to a long life, well lived."
A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service, at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of food or flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies Auxiliary VFW of Kalispell.