Meghan R. Rouns, age 27 of Helena

Meghan Rita Rouns age 27 passed away on October 4th 2024. Meghan was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on June 13th 1997 to Randall and Stephanie Belschner. In the year of 2006, the family decided to make their forever home in Helena, MT. Meghan’s parents wanted to give their daughter every opportunity to Pursue her love for horses. Meghan met the love of her life Braxton Rouns as a sophomore in high school. Meghan and Braxton basically lived across the street from one another. The first memory they both had of one another was Meghan on

horse-back riding down the road, Braxton was a freshman, and was being driven home from school when he looked out the window and saw the most beautiful girl in the world.. It was love at first sight, an instant spark between the two evolved and it never went out, from that day forward they were inseparable, and never wanted to be away from one another. Braxton proposed on October 11th 2016. Braxton completed basic training from the army and they were happily married on July 22, 2017. Meghan followed her husband all over the country while he was on active duty. For the man she loved, she would have followed him anywhere as long as she was with him. After several years away they were finally able to return home to the place they both loved so much, Helena, MT. Braxton and Meghan built their dream home together and were finally able to move in August of 2024. Meghan graduated from Penn Foster as a Veterinarian Technician in 2023. She became a Licensed Vet tech and loved working at Alpine Animal Clinic where she loved her co-workers just as much as the animals she took care of.

Meghan had a beautiful soul and had the desire to help any animal she saw big or small.

Meghan wanted to take in every stray she came across. All she ever wanted was to assure all animals that they were loved and had a safe home. Meghan loved horses ever since she was little and she made it her priority to have horses in her life. Meghan loved barrel racing, Pole bending and just about anything that had to do with rodeo including riding in every parade she could. Meghan loved the outdoors and was always looking for a reason to saddle up her horse and hit the trails with the warmth of the sun shining down upon her. If it wasn’t horses, Meghan loved to fish, float the Black Foot river and ATV rides. If Meghan was asked to go hiking she would simply reply, “Why would I hike? When I have horses to ride, that’s my therapy, exercise and happy place.”

I loved my wife more than life itself, her charming personality, her intoxicating smile and everything about her. I loved giving her anything she needed and asked for with her work and anything with horses. I was her shoulder to cry on and her guardian to keep her safe in the world. Meghan loved my cooking, I poured all of my heart into cooking our food to bring her joy. Meghans favorite dish was Alaskan King Crab legs, she could never have enough and always wanted to go have crab legs. Every Time I saw them on the menu, I told her multiple times she could have them and not to worry about the cost while I was looking at chicken tenders so my lovely wife could have her favorite dish. Meghan loved going on poker rides, trail rides and any event that involved horses. I loved every moment I got to spend with her; on vacations, fishing and watching her carry flags in the rodeo. Meghan always claimed she caught a bigger fish than I ever have, with that warming smile on her face. I always told her she didn’t, but she really did catch a bigger fish than I have. My wife had the better smile for fishing to land the big ones but always yelled for me to come with the net. Meghan was the best thing to ever happen to me in my life and I miss her deeply. I’m going to miss seeing her on the couch studying with her cat, Tux under her arm, trying to further her knowledge to help animals and to continue studying to advance in the EMT field. Meghan always claimed to be my personal nurse, and she was. Meghan always said our love went further than on earth and that it went into the heavens where our love would continue forever.

Meghan is survived by her loving husband Braxton Rouns and her loving parents Randy and Stephanie Belschner. Meghan’s brother, Aaron (Katelyn) Belschner with their kids Alex and Allie Belschner. Meghan’s grandparents, Larry Joseph Belschner and his wife Jane Belschner. Along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.  A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing Street. Burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison.

A memorial fund has been set up in Meghan’s name at Valley Bank; all donations will be donated to charities important to Meghan; The Equestrian Aid Fund, Lewis and Clark Humane Society and Give In Kind.

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Meghan Rita Rouns, (Belschner), was born on June 13, 1997, in Green Bay, Wisconsin to Randall and Stephanie Belschner. Her early years were spent playing with her brother Aaron, whom she was very close to growing up. Meghan was a happy child; she loved to play outside and watch Barney on TV. Her father was lucky to be a stay-at-home dad while in college and loved spending time with Meghan, her mother, and her brother.

In 2001, her family moved out west to Caldwell, Idaho and into their newly built home. She loved her dog Buster and her cat Spooky, among her many other pets. Her family took many train trips which Meghan enjoyed. She was always excited to ride in the cabs with the engineers in vintage steam and diesel locomotives. Her first cab ride was when she was 83 days old.

It was in Green Bay that Meghan discovered her love for horses, she wanted to be near them any chance she could. In 2006, Meghan and her family moved to Montana with the goal of buying horse property so she could have a horse of her own. In 2007, she got her first horse, a young Mustang named Winnie. They were inseparable and she began riding her new horse at the riding arena after school.

Meghan’s family soon acquired another horse, Dakota, whom she adored. She began a lifelong journey of high school rodeos, horse shows, rodeo parades and other horse events with both horses. Meghan and her mother especially enjoyed spending time together at horse events. Along with the horse-related activities, she and her family continued their love of railroading, and many more train trips with locomotive cab rides were the result. One train trip in particular, was very enjoyable for Meghan as she got to have a gourmet cooked meal while riding in a dome car in California. The train was pulled by Santa Fe 3751, on a round-trip excursion from Los Angelos to San Diego. She enjoyed the ice cream dessert and got to walk to the first coach on the train and ride outside on the platform.

Meghan ran her first diesel passenger train in Portland, Oregon. She took two trips by steam to the Grand Canyon, rode in Pere Marquette 1225 in Michigan, was the engineer in three diesel locomotives in California, and her pride and joy was being the engineer in Nevada Northern locomotives #40 and #93. She had to take a written exam and then took those locomotives out on the routes.

Meghan loved animals and continued with horses, adopting King, a Paso Fino and her Mustang named Black Betty. Betty and Meghan were also inseparable, she became an experienced rider and went on long trail rides trail rides with her mother. They enjoyed these rides immensely over the last year and a half.

Meghan graduated with Honors in December, 2023. She earned her Veterinary Technician associate’s degree and had just passed EMT training and practical exams to become a licensed EMT, just 5 days before her passing. She wanted to specialize and be licensed in critical care for animals at Alpine Animal Clinic.

Meghan met the love of her life Braxton, married and built a new home together, and was immensely happy to have her own home after waiting for so many years. She was happy too, that their cats, Tux and Snickers finally had a place to call home.

Her husband and family are devastated by the loss of Meghan; however, we know she is in Heaven for eternity. We can only strive to meet her again at the gate when it is our time to finally come home. Her father will always cherish his memory of walking her down the aisle and the father-daughter dance at her wedding. He will keep the little pendant that was given to him just before she was walked down the aisle, very close.

Meghan is survived by her husband Braxton Rouns, parents Randall and Stephanie Belschner, brother Aaron Belschner, his wife Katelyn and their two children, grandparents Larry and Jane Belschner, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Meghan was a beautiful wife, daughter, and sister. She held her family together through rough and good times and gave her love without condition. It will always be painful to not have Meghan in our lives and we all will miss her deeply. Meghan, we will cherish your memory.

We love you with all our hearts, “Family Always”.

In Meghan’s own words taken from a school paper…

My first ride

My first memory with horses was a while ago.  I was with my dad at an amusement park. Even back then I loved horses; whenever I could I’d want to be around them. At the park there was a stable full of horses. My dad saw my eagerness and took me inside, he arranged for me to be able to ride one of them. The trainer found me a small white pony that was a perfect match for me. The horse seemed to love people; he calmly followed his owner to the post where the owner casually saddled him. I was very anxious; I believe this was my very first horse ride because I was only five. This experience for me at that age was one of my favorites.

Service Schedule

Visitation

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday October 15, 2024

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave

Helena, Montana 59602

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Funeral Mass

12:00 p.m.

Wednesday October 16, 2024

Cathedral of St. Helena

530 N. Ewing Street

Helena, Montana 59601

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Burial

2:30 p.m.

Thursday October 17, 2024

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

Heroes Road

Fort Harrison, Montana 59636

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