Alice Lovelace Rae

Alice Lovelace Rae joined her husband in Heaven on Friday March 28, 2025, at 4:51pm while surrounded by her children. She was born in Big Timber, Montana on September 2, 1922, to Bessie Bryan and George Raymond Lovelace. She is the oldest of 6 children who include sisters Edith, Lois, Alene and brothers Charles “Bud” and Jack. She spent her early years in Big Timber where her family has a rich heritage. Her great-grandfather, William F. McLeod, is recognized as the first permanent settler in the Boulder Valley on a ranch outside Big Timber where he started the first area Post Office at that location. Her Great-Aunt Dollie and Uncle Wade Koontz lived “up the Boulder River” and it is said they bought their land from the Indians who also shared the area with them. Although her family moved frequently, her high school years were mostly spent in Red Lodge, Montana and that is where she met her husband Robert “Bob” Clarence Rae. They were married at the Congregational Church in Red Lodge on July 10, 1939. They quickly became inseparable friends with Bob’s brothers, his sister, and their spouses. Alice is survived by her children Patricia Marilyn “Patty” Powers of Gladstone, Missouri; Robert Donald “Don” (and his wife Ginger) of Steilacoom, Washington; and Charlene Marie currently living in Butte. When they were first married, Alice and Bob lived in Red Lodge, but during the war they moved to Bremerton, Washington where Bob worked at the shipyard. After the war they moved back to Billings where Bob went to Rocky Mountain College by selling a saddle he won at the fair after he caught the greased pig! Alice worked during these early years in Billings at Vaughn-Ragsdale Department store and remembers buying lunch consisting of bread dressing and a cup of coffee for 25 cents. After Bob graduated from college the couple moved to Belfry where Bob coached the Belfry Bats basketball team and led them to three consecutive Class “C” state championships – a record that still stands today. In 1954 they moved to Butte where Bob became the coach of the Butte High Bulldogs basketball team and led them to two consecutive state championships in 1957 and 1958. During this time Alice was working at Montana Tech as a secretary in the President’s office. However, in 1958 Bob was injured while painting a church and became paralyzed from the waist down. After several months of trying to juggle everything, Alice left her job at the college for her new occupation, that of caretaker and every-day champion for her husband. She was tireless in her care for him as well as faithful at keeping up the housework, doing the yard work, being a constant companion for Bob at basketball games, and of course shoveling snow! And all of that without a complaint - - ever. She eventually returned to secretarial work for Dr. Burton and Plett for several years and was last employed as a secretary at West Junior High until 1981 when both she and Bob retired. Bob being paralyzed did not stop them from traveling around the country to see their children and grandchildren – a legacy that has blossomed to 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren. Alice also found great joy in sending cards to all the children in her extended family, and it was only the “crispy” dollar bills that were lucky enough to be included in one of her cards. She also remembered the numerous birthdays and anniversaries of her nieces and nephews as well. If you ever wanted to know whose birthday it was or how old someone would be, just ask Alice! Alice was also a good seamstress, a talent she inherited from her mother. She would make dresses and other clothing for her daughters and granddaughters as well as decorative stuffed toys, quilts, and other household craft items. Alice, or “Shutters” as everyone lovingly called her, would show up at most gatherings with her trusty camera. She would take pictures, develop them, and send copies to family members as her way of keeping the memories alive. Snoopy and Woodstock, the Peanuts characters, were her constant companions for many years from being on the sweatshirts she wore to the main subject of countless cards and gifts she received. One could say with certainty that Alice was a servant at heart and loved helping those around her most of all. She was still driving her car at 100 years old and offering people rides if she thought they might need one. She worked at the Paul Clark Home (Ronald McDonald House) and was a vital member of the United Congregational Church in Butte where her Scottish Shortbread would bring top dollar at their annual auctions. She played bridge early when she moved to Butte and for a short time was a member of the Red Hat ladies. In 1999 she was the grand marshal in the St. Patrick’s Day parade and loved riding in the pink Cadillac. Recently, she was recognized as the longest resident at the Springs of Butte, still living independently in her cottage for over 19 years. In 2024 and 2025 she was celebrated at the Butte-Silver Bow Centenarian banquet for being one of the Butte residents over 100 years old. She never wanted much fuss made over her, but she always loved it when her family and friends were around. She was a faithful and ever-present light in this world and left a definite mark on the lives of those who knew and loved her. Getting on the Springs bus was always fun for Alice and her favorite outing was heading to the Butte Archives for a sack lunch and presentation. She still worked on family genealogy and was trying to find out more about her ancestors even in her final days. Anyone who visited Alice would be offered a tour of Butte in her car which would include a ride around Montana Tech, The Mining Museum, uptown Butte and the Alice Pit. Lately, her favorite day would include a car ride in the sunshine to keep up with things in Butte that were changing and to remember things that would never change. She regularly attended the parades and loved each one she went to. She was even at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and excited to be among the observers waving to all the participants. She recently had been watching the eagles of Big Bear Valley on You Tube and having fun watching their two baby eaglets. Not surprisingly, Isaiah 40:31 comes to mind …. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint”. Run, walk and fly high, Alice! Family graveside interment services will be conducted Monday, May 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in Mountain View Cemetery. A luncheon and celebration of her life will follow at 12 noon in The Springs Community Center, 300 Mount Highland Drive, Butte, Montana. Memorials in memory of Alice may be made to: Butte Food Bank, Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel or Our Lady of the Rockies.

Tributes

Alice Lovelace Rae

September 2, 1922 - March 28, 2025