Stephanie Newhouse Davis

Stephanie Newhouse Davis died May 30, 2021, nine months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She passed away at her home in Billings, surrounded by family.

Stephanie Newhouse was born on Feb. 7, 1949, in Shelby, to William Erwin "W.E." Newhouse and Mary Lorann Wells, and was the second of five children. Her father was active in the grain elevator and ranching industries of Northern Montana. After graduating from Cut Bank High School in 1967, she pursued a pharmacy degree at the University of Montana, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971. In 1970, she married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Davis. They moved to Miles City, where he became involved the operations of the new family business of United Beverage and she launched her pharmacy career at the Osco and Big Sky Pharmacies. This was followed by an extensive career with the Veteran's Administration. It was uncommon to see a female pharmacist in 1973, but this was not the only way in which she remained a pioneer in her profession. She went on to take an active role in clinical pharmacy at the VA. Today, the role of a clinical pharmacist to collaborate with physicians in medication management is commonplace in a hospital, but it was a new concept in the early 1980s and one which she embraced and thoroughly enjoyed. She went on to obtain a doctorate at the University of Chicago at Illinois. After divorcing and launching her children into adulthood, she pursued another pioneering endeavor by completing a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Pharmacoeconomics. She particularly enjoyed the challenge of evaluating research on the efficacy of prescription drugs to determine which are worth their cost and those that are not. After living in Madison, Wisconsin, for many years to pursue her career, she was happy to return home to Montana after retirement to be near family and old friends.

She remained dedicated to her family throughout her life and enjoyed entertaining, cooking and playing bridge. She is survived by son Matthew (Erika) Davis and twin granddaughters Lauren and Kaylee Davis of Minneapolis, as well as daughter Katie Davis of Colorado Springs. Siblings include her sisters Lottie Lohman of Billings, Karen (Len) Kaus of O'Fallon, Illinois, and Lisa Dunning of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in addition to multiple nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Lorann Newhouse; and brother Bill Newhouse.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Stillwater Hospice and the many family and friends who helped Stephanie though this illness. A private family service will be held at a later date.