Denise Laroche

Denise Marie LaRoche, 47, of Bozeman passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2010 from complications after battling breast cancer. Denise was born on January 3, 1963 in Lake Preston, South Dakota to Jerome and Shirley (Jepson) Sweeney. She graduated from Arlington High School before attending the University of South Dakota. In 1987, Denise moved to Montana where she attended Montana State University, earning a double major in Education for Science and English, and Speech Communication. In 1997, she married Jim LaRoche in her hometown of Arlington, SD. She and Jim raised six children, Jess, Chris, Ben, Megan, Gabriel, and Lucas. She was a full-time mother and enjoyed homeschooling her three youngest children. She also worked at Reach, Inc. as an Intensive Services Specialist. She was a voracious reader, an amazing artist, and a fiercely loyal friend. She loved throwing clay pots, whipping up a mouth-watering meal, and watching her kids grow up. Above all else, she loved her family, and her singular passion was teaching her kids how to be responsible, compassionate, and creative people. Denise was preceded in death by her father, Jerome; her father-in-law, Earle LaRoche; her maternal and paternal grandparents; and Shirley#8217;s husband, Merle Knutson. Survivors include her husband, Jim; children, Jess, Chris, Ben, Megan, Gabriel, and Lucas; mother, Shirley Sweeney Knutson of Brookings, SD; siblings, Jim Sweeney of Brookings, SD, Lisa (Bruce) Homann of San Antonio, TX, Mike (Melissa) Sweeney of Albuquerque, NM, and Jeff (Priscilla) Sweeney of San Antonio, TX; mother-in-law, Virginia LaRoche of Billings MT; uncle, Martin (Nancy) Jepson of Sioux Falls, SD; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 8, at Dahl Funeral Chapel, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Memorials in Denise#8217;s name may be made to Chris Trotter, PO Box 10984, Bozeman, MT 59719.