Dawn Ellen (Dehart) Lofthouse

Dawn Ellen DeHart Lofthouse, 72, of Billings, passed peacefully at her home on Nov. 18, 2023, with her devoted and loving husband, Larry, at her side.

She was born on Feb. 22, 1951, in Waukegan, Illinois, to Ed and Adell DeHart. The eldest of five children, she grew up in Helena, Montana, attending Helena High School.

Dawn married Larry Lofthouse on Dec. 31, 1969. Her daughter Amber was born in 1974, followed by son Marcus in 1978. Dawn was a stay-at-home mom, the best mom two kids and their friends could ever hope to have. That was the thing about Dawn — she made everybody feel special and loved, and was always up for fun, adventure or shenanigans, or making the most of a less-than-ideal situation.

She became an x-ray technician as her children got older, and she worked at The Billings Clinic. When the kids went away to college Larry transferred within General Electric to Waukesha, Wisconsin. They lived there for two years but it was never “home.” They returned to Billings and Dawn resumed working at The Billings Clinic until deciding to retire and become a “professional volunteer,” primarily helping with low-cost spay/neuter clinics. She volunteered at several animal rescue organizations, and she made bandanas for adoptable dogs to make them cuter and more likely to be adopted. Because that was Dawn.

She was a member of the Newcomers Club of Billings for over two decades and was an admittedly mediocre bridge player, but loved her bridge group. On nice days she could be found “puttering in the yard” as she was an avid gardener, and she loved reading. Antithetically, she also loved watching both NFL games and NASCAR.

When asked, Dawn listed her two greatest achievements as a long, successful marriage to the man of her dreams and raising two kind, thoughtful, and successful children. But we respectfully disagree — her greatest achievement was in being her true, genuine self and making those around her all the better for it.

Words will never be able to do justice to the sweet, kind, caring, compassionate human that we have lost. So we leave it with this: Dawn would want you to do something kind for somebody, love on an animal, or, better yet, adopt one.

Dawn is survived by her husband of 53 years, Larry; daughter Amber (Amy); son Marcus and grandson Augustin; sisters Vicki McGowan and Kim Norman; and brother Dale DeHart. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Adell DeHart, and brother Kevin.

A private burial for immediate family will be held, and there will be a public celebration of life at 3 p.m. Thursday, December 14, at DanWalt Gardens, 720 Washington Street, Billings, MT 59101.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to an animal rescue group or charity of the donor’s choice.