Lilly M. DeLude, age 86, of Helena

On the morning of December 17, 2013, Lilly M. “Red” DeLude finally made the journey home.  She passed peacefully at the age of 86.

Lilly was born in Butte, Montana on February 25, 1927, to James Hall and Florence Campbell-Hall.  She was the third daughter of five girls.  After her father passed away, Florence later remarried Harry Fellows.

Lilly graduated from Butte Public High School in 1945.  She has held many jobs in Butte, Anaconda and Helena.  One of her jobs in Helena was as a nurse’s aide at Fort Harrison.  That is where she met Gene Belgarde who was a patient and was recovering from a wound he received during the war.  They married and in 1947, Lana was born.  A year later, Barry was born.  He passed away as an infant. 

Lilly also held jobs at Montana Meat, St. John’s Hospital, and the Independent Record – all in Helena.  Lilly’s red hair caught the attention of Grant DeLude.  They were married on August 30, 1968.

Red was a master crafter and seamstress.  She has sewn many outfits, costumes and dresses for her family.  Many of her creations are in our homes today, keeping us organized, spreading smiles and holding our grocery bags.

We all know how much she loved watching baseball.  She even got the opportunity to travel to Atlanta to watch her favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, in 1997.  She was accompanied by Grant, Lana and Andrea.

Besides sewing, crafts and baseball, her main focus was her family.  She wasn’t afraid to set things straight or tell it like it was.  We might not have appreciated it at the time, but she was always honest.  As much as she spoke her mind, even more so, she was ready and willing to help and love.  There are memories of sleepovers on the couch that folds out into a bed.  Sometimes kids would play flashlight tag – until they got caught.  There are memories of yearly trips to Spokane, Washington, where we hit the sidewalks and “shopped until we dropped.”  There are memories of shaking the dice to hit the jackpot.  Wheat toast always tasted better at grandma’s house.  Each of us has special memories of times we spent with her and special things she did.  Hold on to those memories and squeeze them tight.

Red is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Henrietta, Eleanor, Valora and Deloris; former spouse, Gene Belgarde; infant son, Barry; and nephew, Spencer.

Red is survived by her husband, Grant DeLude; daughter Lana (Jim) Hill; her grandbabies, Chantal (Andrew) VanDaele, Nick (Alice Flesch) Hill, and Andrea (Jeff Straw) Hill; great-grandbabies, Lindsay and A.J.; and many, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as Tazzie, her spitfire Yorkshire Terrier.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held.  In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to Go Red for Women or Rocky Mountain Hospice.  Special thanks to the caring folks at Apple Rehab and Rocky Mountain Hospice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Red.

Service Schedule

Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.

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