Dolores M. Whitt

Dolores Whitt, age 87, previously of Great Falls passed away on December 3rd at the Marias Medical Center Nursing Home in Shelby. Visitation is on Monday, December 9th, at noon with the funeral at 1pm. Burial will be at the Mountain View Cemetery following the service.

Dolores was born to Chet and Ethel (Licht) Johnson on September 27th, 1932 in Havre, MT. The family lived in Whitlash, MT and later moved to Kevin. She attended schools in Kevin and Sunburst and graduated from Sunburst High School in 1950. She married Sidney Whitt on August 17th, 1950. Together they raised 4 children. Dolores worked at the People’s Market in Kevin and for the Postal Service. In 1978 they moved to Williston, ND where they lived for 4 years and she worked at JC Penney. They then moved to Missoula, MT to manage the Council Grove Apartment Complex. It was then that Dolores received her BA Degree in Social Work at the University of Montana on March 22, 1991. That was a very proud day for us all. They moved to Great Falls in 1993 when Sid retired. It was there Dolores worked as a caregiver until her retirement. Dolores cared for her mother for several years prior to Ethel’s passing at 101 years old. She loved to travel. One of the most memorable was on a camping trip where they visited Seattle World’s Fair, then down the coast to Disneyland in the 1959 Edsel station wagon packed with 4 little kids, luggage and camping tent. We don’t know for sure, but it was rumored to be the inspiration for the movie National Lampoon’s Vacation. Dolores was the navigator with her map and travel log to keep track of every penny spent to keep the budget on track. Sid and Dolores traveled to Las Vegas several times with friends, as well as visiting Dubai, the Netherlands, France & Austria. Dolores loved adventure and even decided to parasail over Flathead Lake at the age of 64 despite being deathly afraid of water.  She was a wonderful Grandma, always holding the kids and singing to them – one of her favorites was “Pony Girl”.

Survivors include her brother Kenny Johnson and his daughters Rose (Nathan) Thomsen and Andrea (Jon) Erickson; sons Randy Whitt and his 2 children, Bryan (Tasha) Whitt and Jessica Whitt, Dave (Donna) Whitt and his two daughters, Richelle Whitt and Ronni (Jeff) Gray, Les Whitt and his three daughters Liz (Kyle) Whitt-Storck, Aly (Tim) Whitt, and Kate Whitt. Daughter Valorie (John) Sveum and their three children Dana (Stacey) Sveum, Jodi (Toby) Weisz, and Karli (Justin) Houle. Great-grandchildren Amaria, Jasmine, Sydney, Britton, Avery, Emily, Kate, Grace, Alyx, Payton, Ryan, Eva, & Clara. Her dear friends Velma Whitt, Nancy Whitt, Mary Chamberlain, Kara Matoon, and Samantha (Gia) LaSorte.

We would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Biccum for her expertise, kindness and compassion at a time when Dolores and her family needed her help.