Alice Budewitz

HELENA - Alice Budewitz, 92, formerly of Billings, died June 24, 2018, in Helena.

Alice was born on Aug. 3, 1925, on the family farm outside Jordan, Minnesota, a few minutes after her twin brother, Allen, the fourth and fifth of Joseph and Agnes Schwingler's 13 children. After graduating from Jordan High School in 1943, Alice worked in Minneapolis as a bookkeeper. In 1947, she met Bill Budewitz, a former Air Force gunner and the younger brother of her high school English teacher, on a blind date; they were married in 1948. Their son Tom was born in Minneapolis.

In 1952, the family moved to Billings, where Bill worked as a traveling sales rep, selling furniture. Alice became deeply involved in the Catholic church and school community. Their daughter Leslie was born in Billings. Alice and Bill were original members of both St. Pius X and St. Thomas the Apostle churches. Over the years, Alice was a mainstay in many church groups, including the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters, and a dedicated volunteer with the Pink Ladies (St. Vincent's Hospital Auxiliary), school groups and Girl Scouts. Her plates of Christmas cookies were legendary.

Alice loved to walk, and could often be seen strolling her West End neighborhood. With Bill, she fished, bowled and golfed. After Bill died in 1990, she took great joy in her flower garden, reading, golfing and traveling with friends or to see her children. She gathered with women friends to pray the Rosary every Friday morning for more than 30 years.

In 2009, Alice moved to Helena to be closer to her family.

Alice Budewitz lived a life of quiet beauty, faith, loyalty and service, with an innate sense of style and sly humor.

She is survived by her son Tom (Kathy) of Townsend; daughter Leslie (Don Beans) of Bigfork; grandchildren Emily of Phoenix and Tyler of Helena; and great-grandsons Tyler, Jensen and Orin. She is also survived by her brother Victor Schwingler, of Shakopee, Minnesota; Bill's siblings Florence Novak and Geraldine and Richard Budewitz, all of Minneapolis; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 29, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.

Memorials can be made to the Billings Catholic Schools.