When Ruby Stanley was 17 she was told she would be lucky to live to see her 25th birthday by the doctor at the TB hospital (Galen). True to her nature she proceeded to prove that doctor wrong, outliving his prognosis by 72 years, surviving breast cancer when she was 60 years old, and dying on June 10, 2017 just 8 days before her 97th birthday in her home surrounded by her loving family.
Grandma was the rock of her family. She was born in Glendive on June 18, 1920 and grew up on a farm outside of Bloomfield with her 8 siblings. At the age of 17 she developed TB and spent 9 months in the Galen hospital. She returned to Glendive where she met and married Harold Stanley on May 1, 1941. They had 3 children before moving to Billings in 1951. Ruby and Harold were married for 52 years until his death in 1993. She was an active member of the Billings Bible Church where she taught Sunday school, was the librarian, and played the piano and organ.
Her love for her Savior and her family was apparent to all who met her. Grandma was an active member of the Gideon’s. Her home was open to everyone and lovingly referred to as the “Stanley Hotel” by friends and family. She and her husband Harold supported many missionaries, including Dave Greiman, who was like a son to her.
She is survived by her daughter, Chloe Propp; grandchildren, Randy Propp, Richard Propp, Rebecca (Arturo) Echeverri, David (Alexis) Hedrick, Heide (Matthew) Cole and Roberta (David) Deierling; great-grandchildren, Aaron (Mellissa) Propp, Alyssa Propp, Spencer Propp, Connor and Cooper Cole and Aiden and Jude Hedrick; and great-great-grandchildren, Zoe and Nora Propp and Jovante and Jeremiah Pena. She is also survived by her siblings Gladys Kauffman, Eunice Field and Keith Mullet.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; son, Kenneth; daughter, Kathleen; and siblings, Lillian Davis, Jesse Evans, Margaret Bidwell, Lucille Holderman and James Mullet.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 22 at Smith’s Funeral Home at 925 South 27th St. at 7 p.m. Services will be at Big Sky Bible Church 383 E. Alkali Creek Road in Billings at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 23. Burial will take place at Red Top Mennonite Church near Bloomfield on Saturday June 24 at 1 p.m.
Memorials can be made to Gideon’s International or a charity of your choice. Gram will be missed. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting smithfuneralchapels.com.