Rosetta (Dit) Strecker

Rosetta (Dit) Strecker passed away Wednesday morning, June 21, 2017.

Rosetta was born on Nov. 18, 1924, to Hazel and William Willmore in Billings. Rosetta was one of five girls and her older sister could not say "sister babe" and instead called her "ditter babe," and thus she was stuck with the loving nickname of Dit her whole life.

After graduating high school from Billings Senior High, she picked up nursing skills in Bozeman and then ventured east to Philadelphia to work as a "Rosie the Riveter." Being very patriotic, she then decided she could help the war cause better by joining the army WACS. She worked as a T5 medic with our wounded soldiers in Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. During a leave home, she spotted a handsome young man in army uniform and ended up marrying that young man, Henry "Hank" Strecker, in the leap year of 1946.

During their 70 years of marriage, Dit and Hank farmed for many years in Shepherd. At that time, they adopted a young son, Johnny. They eventually decided to sell the farm and jump into owning the beautiful Pine Edge cabins in Silver Gate. After many happy years in Silver Gate, they moved to Livingston to enjoy retirement, until their health brought them back to Billings recently.

Dit had numerous hobbies, and she was an accomplished oil painter. She also loved cooking, quilting and rescuing animals. A highlight for the Streckers was their WWII Veterans Honor flight to Washington DC in 2013.

Dit was preceded in death by her son, John Strecker; sisters, Judy Peters, Jenny Rivera and Delores Campbell. She is survived by her loving husband, Hank; grandchildren John Mike Strecker and Roseann Geertz (Jerry); sister Billie Strissel (Boyd); and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the loving and outstanding staff in Reflections at Morning Star Senior Living.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings. A family and friends gathering will be held after interment at Morning Star Senior Living, 4001 Bell Ave., off Shiloh/Central.