Alice Louise (Stratton) Lester

In Loving Memory of Alice Louise Lester (Stratton) August 8, 1949 – August 16, 2026 FUNERAL SERVICE DETAILS Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Gold Hill Lutheran Church — Butte, Montana • Visitation: 10:00 AM | • Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Interment at Mount Moriah Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the church. Life & Journey At the time of her passing, Alice was living in Dyer, Tennessee, many miles from her home in the mountains of Montana. Born in Butte, Montana, to the late Howard Wheeler Stratton and Vadis Virginia (DeCorey) Stratton, Alice was the third of seven children. She attended Greeley Grade School, East Middle School, and Butte High School before continuing her education at Western Montana College in Dillon. Alice spent her childhood split between Butte and her beloved Highland Mountains to the south. As a true teenager of the 1960s, she embraced a time of great music, high school dances, and driving her Volkswagen Beetle covered in daisies. Though she spent most of her adult life in Southern California and Western Oregon before moving to Tennessee for her final four years, her spirit remained tied to the Montana—even if she was content to leave Montana’s snow behind. Professionally, Alice was a talented hairstylist who managed two floors of a Glenby Salon in downtown Portland, worked as a barber on a naval base in California, and as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Golfing was her favorite pastime. Family & Relationships Alice was married to Chuck Smith in her younger years, David Taylor (deceased), and in later years Ronald Lester until his passing in 2020. In Tennessee, she found wonderful companionship with Ben Johnson, sharing three years of friendship and love (her Southern Gentleman). Family Left Behind & Cherished Memories Preceded in Death By: Her parents, Howard and Vadis Stratton, and her beloved daughter, Angela Taylor. Survived By: • Companion: Ben Johnson • Son: Michael Smith (Penny) • Grandchildren: Davidjon "DJ" Aguinaga, Olivia Smith, and Melody Smith • Siblings: Gloria Rogers, Bob Stratton (Joy), Mark Stratton (Etta), Margie Haikka (Tommi), Dave Stratton (Aimee), and Howie Stratton (Maria) • Extended Family: A vast network of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends who were treated as family. A Personal Tribute Oh Alice, how we are going to miss you. Every single phone call started with your warm greeting, "Sweetheart." How we would love to take one more walk with you up by The Old Mill Pond in the Highlands, picking wild berries to bring back home to make jam with Mom. We take comfort in knowing you are picking wildflowers and herbs up in heaven now. You lived life to the absolute fullest, always putting others before yourself and loving your family unconditionally. You truly were one of the sweetest people God ever gave us. While we know your work here was complete and He called you home, our hearts miss you deeply. We love you, Alice… .

Alice Louise (Stratton) Lester

August 8, 1949 - August 16, 2026