Brenda Hergenraeder

Brenda passed away at home with her loving husband Brent by her side. Through the years, Brenda dealt with numerous medical conditions with such courage and grace. She never lost her sense of humor and her strength amazed us all. She was our hero. Brenda was so grateful for her husband Brent who was her caregiver for many years.

Brenda was born August 16, 1960, in Lovell, WY, the oldest of five children. She graduated from Cody High School where she was on the drill team, in DECA and because she excelled at Math received a trip to New York City. She was a BB gun shooting champion to the amusement of her children. She was motivated at a young age and started working when she was 14, often working two jobs. She was taught that if you wanted something you had to work for it.

Brent and Brenda's love story began 46 years ago in Cody. Brenda worked at the famous Irma Hotel and Brent worked in the oil fields. Brent would come in and sit at the end of the lunch counter so he could flirt with the pretty blonde hostess, Brenda. They were married on August 4 1979 in Cody.

When the oil field boom ended, Brent and Brenda decided to start their own lawn care business in Billings. During those years, she did the books and administrative work but her main focus was always on raising their three children Tana, Dustin, and Tyson. When the kids were growing up, the family enjoyed camping, boating, and skiing with family and friends. Great times were had at the Lynn family cabin in the Beartooth mountains. She was there for every baseball game, football game, soccer game, and piano lesson and was a fierce defender of her children

Brent and Brenda lived in the same house for 35 years. Neighbors became lifelong friends. It was a great neighborhood to grow up in where the kids were safe. Brent and Brenda's home was always open to those who needed help, even if you just needed air for your bike tire.

Brenda enjoyed golf and was a talented bowler and a good cook. When the kids got older she worked outside the home. As a lunch lady at Canyon Creek, she connected with the children who needed love and support and was remembered long after she left.

Tana blessed Brenda and Brent with grandchildren. Being young for a grandmother, Brenda preferred to be called Nana and was able to enjoy her grandchildren for many years. Nana and Grandpa were there if the grandkids needed a helping hand, a place to stay, or just a hug.

In recent years, Brent and Brenda would jump in their convertible and travel the backroads of Montana searching for that perfect piece of land. They were “chasing the sun”. They bought a place in Arizona to escape the Montana winter and be close to the Mayo Clinic so Brenda could receive the best medical care.

Brenda's inspirational messages always reminded all of us to live every day with faith, hope, and love. She was so proud of her son Dustin, he was one of the volunteer firefighters from Montana who went to California to help fight the devastating wildfires. One of her last wishes was for her son Tyson to marry his longtime girlfriend Marissa. Brenda will be smiling down as family and friends celebrate the wedding of Ty and Marissa, on Feb 22. We know that Brenda is on a beach where the sun always shines and she is finally warm.

We hope you will join us for a celebration of Brenda's life on Saturday, February 15 at 1:00 pm at the LDS church: 2620 54th St W, Billings. The family requests that you wear bright colors in honor of Brenda's love of tropical beach attire and her sunny personality.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.

Brenda is survived by her husband Brent, Billings; daughter Tana and Matt Lee, Billings; son Dustin Hergenraeder Red Lodge; son Tyson Hergenraeder and fiancé Marissa Ingledue Billings; Grandchildren Kaysia Webb Chandler Az; Mariah Webb Billings; Maddox Goff, Billings and great grandson Levi, Billings. Mother Donna Lynn, Cody Wy; sister Cindy and John Bloom, Powell Wy; sister Christine Cross, Billings; brother Craig and Michelle Lynn, Appleton Wisconsin; brother Clay and Lisa Lynn, Cody Wy; sisters-in-law Janice Hergenraeder, Cindy Hergenraeder and Wendy Hergenraeder, Billings. Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Lynn.