Theresa Marie Putman

Theresa Marie Putman passed away peacefully to be with our Lord and savior, on July 23, 2022, after 57 years of life. Theresa was known for being a devoted mother, a loving daughter, a supportive sister and a caring friend.

She was born to her late mother, Jeanne Woodard, and late father, Vern Woodard, on April 30, 1965, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. There, she would grow up with her sisters: Laurie, Vickie and Sheila, until they moved to Billings, Montana in 1972, a place she would call home for the rest of her life.

To know Theresa is to love her. Her life is etched with a story of strength and resilience that couldn’t possibly be translated into words here. She proved so many wrong in her life about what she was capable of and defied every odd along the way. Theresa was born with two subtypes of Muscular Dystrophy and severe scoliosis. This resulted in her being wheelchair-bound her entire life, along with many other health conditions, but this didn’t stop her from doing what everyone else her age was doing. She began defying the odds at a young age when she became the first disabled child to attend public school in Billings (and likely the state of Montana). In 1984, at her graduation from Senior High School, Theresa walked across the stage and received her diploma, erupting a standing ovation. Unknown to anyone else, she had been practicing for months with her P.E. teacher, Janet Reno, to achieve such an unforgettable moment. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Abnormal Psychology along with Social Problems and Crime Control from Montana State University-Billings. She touched too many lives to count during her career as an addictions counselor at the Mental Health Center for 24 years. Theresa also tried her hand in politics, narrowly losing the Yellowstone County Justice of the Peace seat in 2002 to a four-time incumbent, who was used to running unopposed. Our hero earned 40% of the vote.

Theresa married Steven Putman in 1989, and of that union, they adopted their son Kylan at birth in 1995. Kylan was her entire world, and she proved to be his biggest fan in life, especially while watching him compete in all of his sports. Theresa continued along her path of strength and resilience, raising Kylan as a single mother almost his whole life. Her love, compassion, and commitment as a mother was truly one in a million.

In her spare time, Theresa loved crafting, shopping, watching football, fishing, and taking care of her pets. She enjoyed traveling and seeing new places. One of the most beautiful sights she had seen was the Oregon Coast. Perhaps most of all, she loved sharing her life and memories with her other half, Tom Michael. Though Tom and Theresa never married, no one embodied the commitment of “in sickness and in health” more than Tom.

Theresa is preceded in death by her father, Vern; her mother, Jeanne; and sister, Tina. She is survived by her son, Kylan Putman; partner, Thomas Michael; stepsons, Eric (April Greer) Michael, and TJ Michael; sisters, Laurie (Brice) Brogan, Vickie (Jerry) Valentine, and Sheila (Stewart) Penn; her granddaughter Charlotte Michael; as well as many nieces, nephews, and members of extended family.

Theresa could be described as strong, independent, assertive, caring, determined, selfless and kind. If you were lucky enough to have known this woman, you would undoubtedly agree. Her life may have been just 57 years in time, but her indomitable spirit and passion for living will be felt for generations. We could all take a lesson from Theresa in how to maximize life’s potential.

Know her story and dare to live like Theresa. She will be infinitely missed by her surviving loved ones, but it brings us all much comfort to know she is pain free and at peace. Her fight is over. Additionally, her family would like to thank all of Theresa’s caregivers over the years. Theresa loved them like family and in turn they cared for her with love and grace. They allowed Theresa to retain her independence in her later years, and for that, our family and Theresa herself will be eternally grateful.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday Aug. 1, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 537 Grand Ave in Billings. Reception to follow.