Grace (Richie) Ness

On the morning of Saturday, February 11, 2023, Grace Ness passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends.

She was born Grace Irene Richie to parents Lola Lorraine Patton and France Dale Richie in Villisca, Iowa on August 15, 1943. When she was a young girl they moved to Montana and settled in Rudyard, Montana. She was the 2nd child of 5 children.

Grace married the love of her life, Ferris “Buster” Ness, on March 25, 1965 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She had three children - Karen (Kelly) of Anaconda, MT, Amy (Foster) of Belgrade, MT and Dana Ness who currently resides in Whitehall, MT.

Mom worked side-by-side with dad on their farm in Rudyard, MT. They owned Ag Air, Inc. and grew and harvested wheat. She washed A LOT of airplane windows. She was a very hard worker and a huge asset in making Ag Air as successful as it was.

Grace loved traveling to Hawaii with her husband and later her best friend Corrine. She also enjoyed traveling with her son, Dana Ness to the NAAA conventions in Savannah, GA. Her home was always a great place to stop and visit around a cup of coffee in the morning and her grandkids brought her a lot of joy. Family and close friendships were very important to her and she loved spending time visiting if they stopped to see her on the Hi-Line or traveling to see them. Her last few years were spent in Butte, Montana where she was closer to her 3 children and best friend.

Mom enjoyed reading, music and doing jigsaw puzzles.  She also enjoyed sewing, crochet, needlepoint and embroidery.  Sitting at the kitchen table and watching the sun rise, her American flag and of course, the big red barn, were also favorite pastimes.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Buster Ness, sisters Betty Hart and Nancy Sudan, and sons-in-law John “Bobo” Kelly, Frank Foster and Matt Coughlin.

Grace is survived by her siblings Keith (Kay) Richie and Jeanette (Ed) White. Her children Karen Kelly, Amy Foster, and Dana Ness. Her grandchildren Elizabeth (Corey) Beane, Conor (Alli) Kelly, Eric Carver, Amanda Carver, Maren and Aiden Ness and her great grandchild, Chamber Kelly and many nieces and nephews.

Grace will be remembered by those who knew her for her quiet strength, incredible resilience, and wicked sense of humor.

Services will be held Friday, February 17, at 1PM at New Beginnings Church in Rudyard.