Mary Janet Carter

Mary J. Carter, 79, of Billings, passed peacefully at St Vincent's Hospital on June 25, 2019.

Mary was born to Florian and Celestina Erhardt on Feb. 10, 1940, in Grant County, North Dakota. She spent her early days working on the family farm. It was these early days where Mary established her lifelong hard work ethic that she carried on throughout her life.

She moved to Sidney, where she spent the next 30 or so years. She owned and operated the Bowling Alley "R&R Lanes" and enjoyed time with family and friends.

She moved to Billings in 1986 and started working at St. Vincent Hospital shortly after, where she worked to the end - not calling out/missing one day off sick! Mary loved spending time with her family, laughing, joking, play cribbage and outside yard games. She looked forward to those daily calls with her daughter Twylla, chatting about whatever came up (prices of meat at Albertsons); and those random calls with Rae Ann and Wayne, just to check in, as she would say "no news is good news."

Mary was survived by her daughter, Rae Ann Kautzman (Sandi), of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter Twylla Carter of Jefferson City; grandson Cole John (Rebecca) Erickson of Aurora, Colorado; granddaughter Jordan Stauduhar of North Hampton, Massachusetts; and son Wayne (Leann) Carter of Butte; grandson Zachary Carter of Butte and great-granddaughter Alice; her brother ,Matt Erhardt and sister Betty Billman of Billings; and sister Caroline Frappier of Oregon; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Raymond Kautzman (1961) and Ron Carter; her sister Irene and brother Al Erhardt.

In honoring our mother's wishes, no services will be held. Family and friends will meet at Tiny's Tavern in Billings between 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29, to celebrate Mary's life. All of Mary's friends and coworkers are welcome and encouraged to stop in and share in the celebration.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation.

The family would like to extend their thanks to her many friends and coworkers that helped make her life more enjoyable.

NOT TO WORRY!