Lillian Mary Rose Spogis

Spogis Lillian Mary Rose Spogis was born to Mary (Spetz) and John Rose in Toledo Ohio August 17, 1923. Her family included brothers Cletus, John, Francis, Robert, and sister, Helen. On January 12, 2008 she joined them with the Lord. At an early age Lil developed a love for the outdoors and adventure. A keen interest in training dogs was nurtured with the family#8217;s hunting dogs. Her father and brothers taught her to be comfortable and able as an outdoorswoman. As a young adult, Lillian traveled throughout the U. S. and Mexico settling in Seattle for a time with a childhood friend. There they lived on a houseboat while earning a living working at a local cannery. Back in the Midwest, she met Fabian #8220;Joe#8221; Spogis and married, settling in Toledo to care for her mother and raise a daughter, Lorna and son, Christopher. Lil lived her life with a great sense of personal responsibility and strong conservation ethic. She loved the outdoors, dogs, gardening and planting trees. She shared these loves with her children. In 1965, the family moved to a farm in rural Ohio to have a place where Lil and her family could nurture their love of the rural life. Aside from the typical farm animals, their place became somewhat of a zoo, with animals ranging from peacocks to raccoons, Lil#8217;s favorite house pet was a red fox. As the children matured, they set their sights on the mountains of Montana. All along, it may have been Lil#8217;s plan to get the kids to move there so that she would have more of an excuse to visit the country she so loved. When grandchildren Thomas and Anna were born in Montana to Lorna and Dennis Simard, the deal was sealed. Waiting until Joe retired and the kids visits to the flatlands became scarce, another of her dreams came true. They sold the farm and moved to a log cabin on Brackett Creek in the Bridger Mountains in 1988. It was here that she finally felt at home. She would take long daily walks with her dogs in the surrounding forest and mountains. As Lil would tell it, one of her fondest memories was her backpack trip to Granite Peak in the Absarokee mountains with grandson Thomas and son Christopher. In the Mid 1990#8217;s, Lillian#8217;s days in the outdoors began to dwindle as Parkinson#8217;s disease to its toll on her strength and stamina. She could still enjoy another granddaughter, Eliza born to Christopher and Mary Ellen (M.E. McNeil), and great granddaughters Tristin and Baillee, born to Anna Simard and Jason Volkersz. Her love of family, dogs, gardening and the outdoors never diminished up to the very end. Lillian is survived by her husband of 57 years Fabian #8220;Joe#8221; Spogis; daughter Lorna Simard, son Christopher Spogis; grandson Thomas Simard of Colorado Spring, granddaughter Anna Simard Volkersz, granddaughter Eliza Spogis; and great granddaughters Tristin Simard Volkersz and Baillee Volkersz. Visitation will be Thursday, January 24, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, at the Dahl Funeral Home, Bozeman, with a Vigil service at 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be Friday, January 25, 2008, at 11:00 AM, at the Resurrection Catholic Church. Bozeman, MT. Memorials in Lillian#8217;s honor may be made to an organization that reflects Lillian#8217;s loves in life such as the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (Trails), 406-587-8404 or ArborDay.org, 1-888-448-7337.