Dorothy J. Rideout

Dorothy Jeannette (Christiaens) Rideout passed away peacefully Monday, April 14, 2014 at Liberty County Hospital in Chester, Montana at the age of 82.

Born on July 10, 1931, Dorothy was the oldest of Maurice and Jeannette Christiaens 10 children and was raised on the family farm east of Valier until she graduated from Valier High School in 1950.  On October 2, 1951, Dorothy married Don Rideout and resided with him on the Rideout homestead outside Conrad until 1966 when the family purchased a home in Valier.  She would remain in Valier until 1999 when she moved with her youngest daughter to Great Falls and then to Chester.

Dorothy was a beloved figure within St. Francis Catholic Church and the Valier community.  An excellent cook known for her baked bread, Dorothy always had an open door and seat at the table for anyone who needed it.  She took pride in her faith and was a lector and played the organ during mass.  She also maintained a beautiful yard adjacent to the church that flourished in the summertime.

While Dorothy was a cherished member of Valier, she was more so among her family.  The mother of eight children, Dorothy was more than a homemaker and hostess.  She was the matriarch, the delegator, the forerunner, and the heart.  While her children, at times, tested more than her patience, her love for them outlasted all odds and it was with her family’s love that she was lifted into eternity.

Survivors include her children: Debbie (Joseph North) Rideout of Missoula; Deanna (Mike) Durnell of Valier; Randy (Annie) Rideout of Shelby; Maury (Linda) Rideout of Valier; Leslie (Steve) Nelson of Valier; Anne (Clayton) McAlpine of Valier; Rusty Rideout of Chester; and Jennifer Rideout of Chester.

Dorothy is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.  If there was ever a task she excelled at, it was being a grandmother.  For her grandkids, nothing compared to her hugs, stories, and presence.  Dorothy’s love for her grandkids was evident until the end when Grandma D kissed them her last goodbye and their “see you again.”

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Don Rideout, her parents Maurice and Jeannette Christiaens, and four siblings.

The Vigil and Rosary for Dorothy will take place at 7 PM at St. Francis Catholic Church in Valier on Friday, April 25.  Her funeral will be Saturday, April 26, at St. Francis at 10:30 AM with burial to follow at Lakeview Cemetery.  Please visit Dorothy’s online memorial and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.whittedfuneral chapel.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitted Funeral Chapel.