Lucy Garritson

Mom joined Dad on Saturday, July 29th after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. Mom was born in Billings on September 8, 1926 to Dorothy (Wegner) and Nicola Ottolino. She was the middle child growing up in an Italian/ Volga German house-hold. She was proud of her heritage and her name Lucia Helena Rubino Ottolino. She was fortunate to have a very large extended family with dozens of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins that all lived in the Yellowstone and Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone Valleys. She attended Billing's schools while working as an usherette at the Fox, Babcock and Lyric theaters. During WWII she moved to Seattle working as a supply clerk providing goods for Navy ships. After the war, she returned to Billings and received her beauty operator license then moved to Riverton, Wyoming opening and running her own beauty salon. Missing Montana, she sold the salon and while riding the bus back to Billings she met a young soldier who swept her off her feet. Within a year, she and Robert J. Garritson were married and began a long life full of love, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mom and Dad lived on the Billings Bench, now called the Heights, for over fifty years until Dad passed away in 2003. They owned and operated Garritson and Macer Livestock Trucking until Dad's retirement. They were founding members of the Billings Mounted Quadrille. Mom loved her square dancing, pinochle and bingo. She was proud of her gardens and trees. Mom raised us kids to grab the most out of life, to have adventures and to explore nature and geology. Being a rock hound she would take us kids to the hills to fish, camp and collect rocks and fossils. She was an amazing cook and could create a meal out of nothing as long as it contained lots of garlic. She was famous for her spaghetti. Music was a big part of her life and singing was the norm in our home. She passed her love of music on to her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Robert James (Barbara) and their children, Jeanne and Jerek and his son Liam, Rod (Donn Raymond), Ron (Jane) and son Travis (Raina) and their sons Rowan and River, and Laura (Andy Wilson) and their children Nicole, Stephanie and Garrett. Mom was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother, Albert Ottolino and step daughter, Merry Lee, which leaves her sister, Leonora Toole as the last of her siblings. Viewing will be Wednesday from 6 pm – 8 pm with funeral service at 11 am Thursday both at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family would like to thank all of the staff at Edgewood Vista for the loving care they gave to Mom. Cards may be sent to Dahl Funeral Chapel, 10 Yellowstone Ave, Billings, MT 59101.