Capi Vellinga

Capi Emelle (Vellinga) Kountz went home to be with the Lord on July 23, 2009 at her home after battling breast cancer for six years. She was born on July 17, 1955 in Sibley, Iowa to John and Mary Lou Vellinga. She graduated from Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids, Iowa in 1973 and went on to attend college at Northwestern of Iowa in Orange City. She was active in Cheerleading at college and traveled with Championship teams as far away as Japan. Capi was also elected to the Who#8217;s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1976-77. In 1977, she graduated from Northwestern and was drawn to the beauty of Montana. She began working at Big Sky and eventually moved to Bozeman in and 1979 began working for Lomas Nettleton Mortgage Company. She enjoyed helping people obtain home loans and set off on a 35+ year career in the residential mortgage business where she set new industry standards. Capi also in her work made it many times to the Presidents Club. On December 8, 1989 she married Dayle H. Kountz and they resided southwest of Bozeman on their ranch, raising paint horses and cattle. The two went on the Centennial Cattle Drive of 1989. Every fall Capi would love to take a week off and go on the annual Kountz Cattle Drive. In 1995, they built Kountz Arena to provide a year-round venue for rodeo and all equine events. Capi was a member of Shining Mountains Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and attended bible class and fellowship groups. She was also active in the Bozeman Rotary, where she was the first woman Rotarian, Bozeman Saddle-lites, Gallatin County 4-H, Rodeo Bible Camp, and various cancer groups. She also enjoyed flowers, camping, rodeoing, going to the lake, and spending time with her family. She especially enjoyed winter trips to Mexico with her family, parents, and Dayle#8217;s aunt Ruth (John) Habenger of Billings. She is survived by her husband Dayle, daughter Kaylee Sky, and stepson Cody Kountz, all of Bozeman, her mother, Mary Lou (John) Vellinga of Bozeman; brother Cory Vellinga and his wife Pam McCutcheon of Bozeman, nephew Connor Vellinga and niece Sierra Vellinga of Bozeman, aunts Evelyn Halvorson of Rock Rapid, IA and Nelvina (Andy) Mouw of Sibley, IA; and her beloved dog, Rope. She had many cousins including area relatives Steve and Debbie Wilken, Michelle (Thomas) McGuane, Dalyce (Michael) Sellers, Connie (Lauren) Runia, and Leslie Hysell. She was preceded in death by her father, John Vellinga, in January 2009. A graveside committal of ashes will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the Whitehall Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held at Grace Bible Church at 2:00 pm, Thursday, July 30. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Gallatin County 4-H, 311 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715 or to Shining Mountains Lutheran Church, 325 N 25th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59718.