Paula Robertson

Paula Kathleen Otte Robertson, 102, of Billings, passed away on Saturday, March 25th, 2023 at the Riverstone Hospice Home.

Born on January 14th, 1921, Paula was the daughter of George F. and Bessie Bowman Otte of Sand Springs Montana. Paula was the youngest of three children. Her sister Frieda was born in 1916 and her brother George W. was born in 1918.

Paula's mother Bessie died of a kidney infection in April 1921. Bessie's sister Mary Bowman Neiter and Harold Neiter agreed to raise Paula as a daughter, because George F. Otte, could not take care of a baby and run his ranch. The Neiters had just been married in 1920. The Neiters had a boy, Owen B., who was born in 1922, so the cousins (Paula and Owen) we raised as brother and sister.

Frieda and George were then raised by their Bowman grandparents. Paula stated that “Through these years, it seemed perfectly natural for me to have two fathers, Daddy Harold and Daddy George”. Paula also stated “We often visited Grandma and Grandpa Bowman. I enjoyed these visits because I could play with my older sister Frieda and brother George. Also, Daddy George came over to visit us and Frieda, George, Owen, and I would all run to meet him”. When Grandmother Bowman died in 1929, Frieda lived with Mary and Harold Neiter, until she graduated from high school. George was then raised by his dad, George F., until college graduation.

Harold wore many hats to support his family. He worked with livestock, worked for the Highway Department, and ran a sawmill next to the Musselshell River. Finally, Harold and Mary owned and operated the Sand Springs Store for a number of years. Mary served as Post Mistress during this time.

Paula graduated from Garfield County High School in Jordan, Montana in 1938. Like many country kids, Paula lived in the high school dorm during the school season. After graduating, she then lived in Palo Alto, California with some of the neighbor's relatives (the Pools) for a year. During this time, Paula served as a nanny to the Pool children and took some pre-college courses.

After a year, Paula returned to Montana and enrolled in Montana State University (now the University of Montana) in Missoula. She had a history class, taught by future Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield. Paula said that "Mike Mansfield was an intelligent, but boring teacher.”

During her college years, her best friend was Katherine Robertson. Paula received her Teaching Certificate from MSU in 1943. For three years, Paula taught English and Band in Highwood and Forsyth.

In 1946, Paula married Katherine's brother Ralph M. Robertson. Ralph ran a ranch south of Sand Springs. From this marriage were born Jerry, 1947; David, 1949; Frank, 1953 and Keith, 1955. Ralph passed away in 1957 from a farm accident. Paula stayed with her boys on the ranch until 1958, when she and her sons moved to Billings, to be closer to schools and be closer to Harold and Mary Neither who had moved to Billings in 1947.

All four of Paula's boys attended Holy Rosary Grade School and Billings Central Catholic High School. Paula was active in the church and belonged to the Our Lady of Fatima Church Circle. The women of this Circle would socialize and raise money for Holy Rosary. All four boys attended and received diplomas from Montana State University Bozeman.

Paula taught all her boys the card game of Pitch. They all learned to love this game (except Jerry) and played Scrabble a couple of times a week. Paula also enjoyed Rummy, which she played with her women friends. When living on Yellowstone Avenue in Billings, she had a wonderful yard and flower gardens.

Paula was preceded in death by her biological parents, George F. and Bessie Bowman Otte, her husband Ralph, her “adopted parents” Harold and Mary Neiter, her brother George W. Otte, sister Frieda Otte Guthridge and brother (cousin) Owen Neiter.

Her survivors include her sons Jerry (Sue), David (Barbara), Frank of Billings, and Keith (Nancy) of Helena. She is also survived by her granddaughters Carrie Robertson (Ryan) Hopson, of Billings, Jana Robertson (Aaron) Fox, of Snoqualmie, Washington, and grandson Matt (Jillian) Robertson, of Richardson Texas. She is also survived by three great-granddaughters, Taylor Hopson (Aba) Atwan, of Missoula, and Jaedon and Rylie Hopson, of Billings; four great-grandsons, Hudson and Lincoln Fox of Snoqualmie Washington, and Brooks and Jack Robertson, of Richardson Texas. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces as well as grand nephews and nieces.

Paula lived in her own house until her recent illness. In the last few years, she had help from many good women from Synergy Homecare. Her last few days were spent at The Riverstone Hospice Home, where she was well taken care of.

A Celebration of Paula's life will be on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Dahl Funeral Chapel at 12:30 pm. A Graveside Service will follow at 1:30 pm at the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A Luncheon will be served at 2:00 pm at Dahl Funeral Chapel.