Mary Charlotte Schaffer

Mary Charlotte Schaffer, age 95, passed away on February 1, 2025 at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana.

Mary was the twelfth of thirteen children born to Ernest and Angelina Preston.  Mary was born September 8, 1929 at Broadus, Montana.  She grew up and attended grade school and high school at Broadus.  Mary’s father, Ernest, passed away when Mary was young.  Mary’s mother, Angelina, supported the family by washing clothes. Angelina bought Mary a bicycle with a basket, so Mary could deliver the newly washed clothes all over the Broadus community.  At the age of eleven and twelve, Mary was working in the restaurants, first as a dishwasher and then for many years as a waitress. Her senior year, Mary went to school in the mornings and then worked half days as the Assistant Treasurer at the Powder River County Courthouse.  She graduated as salutatorian of her class.  Mary met Bill Schaffer during the summer of 1947.  Mary had just finished high school and Bill had just been discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II.  Bill and Mary were married on Valentines Day, February 14th, 1948.  Bill was the love of Mary’s life.  They had three children, Ronnie, Connie and Debrah.  Soon a niece, Bobby Jean Preston joined the family.  Mary was an excellent cook and she welcomed company.  She invited several nieces and nephews to stay at their home.  Some of them stayed during the school year and some of them stayed during the summer. There was always a houseful.  Mary started teaching in January of 1955.  She taught for over 30 years at various schools including Washington School, Boyes School, Hay Creek School, Biddle School and for many years at Broadus Elementary School.  

Mary always had a large garden and her yard was filled with beautiful flowers.  Mary and Bill both participated in rodeos.  Bill roped and Mary barrel raced.  Later, Mary worked in the crows nest as a timer at the rodeos.  Bill and Mary ranched north of Boyes, Montana where they raised Quarter Horses and Hereford cattle. They showed their horses at many of the area horse shows.  They had several trophies and ribbons.  Horses were a big part of their lives. They also lived on Hay Creek which had large productive fields.  In the summer, Mary fed the haying and combine crews. She also attended Black Hills State College in the summer. Later, she attended Eastern Montana College at Billings, Montana where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree.

Mary and Bill were married for 73 years.  Mary’s greatest joy has always been her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.  Mary loved her flowers and the small babies on the ranch, especially the baby colts, the baby calves and the baby kittens.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Connie (Jim) Capp and Debrah (John) Capp and by a special niece Bobby Jean (Lee) Traub, a sister-in-law Margaret Schaffer as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.  Mary was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her son Ronnie, her parents Ernest and Angelina Preston, her brothers: George, Tom, Kenneth, Ernest and Acie and her sisters: Alma, Velma, Elsie, Hallie, Ruby, Marjorie and Esther.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus.  Interment will follow in the Boyes Cemetery.  Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting:  www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Boyes Cemetery.