Official Obituary of
Laura Margaret Prueter
December 23, 1919 ~ March 31, 2017 (age 97) 97 Years Old
Laura Prueter Obituary
Laura Margaret (O'Donnell) Prueter passed away peacefully the morning of March 31, 2017 in Butte, MT. She is now dancing with her sweet Ray in heaven. Laura was born on December 23, 1919, in Lewistown, MT to Harry and Helen O'Donnell. She graduated from Fergus County High School in 1937. She attended Montana State College in Bozeman, where she was a member of SPURS and the Kappa Delta sorority, graduating in 1943 with a B.S in Applied Arts.
Shortly after graduating, she ventured to Southern California to work for Douglas Aircraft and aid in the war time effort. She delivered plans to the engineers throughout the plant on roller skates.
It was in California that she would meet the love of her life, Ray Prueter. They started out as neighbors and friends, but he soon won her heart and they were married at the Little Chapel of the Dawn in Santa Monica on May 26, 1951. Laura and Ray moved to Port Hueneme, CA, a sleepy little town north of Los Angeles. They were blessed with two daughters, Denise Lynne and Diane Rae.
In 1954 Laura began teaching in the Hueneme Elementary School District and taught for 18 years. She was selected as "Miss Peach" during her tenure in a contest held by the local newspaper. She loved teaching and was fondly remembered by many students throughout the years.
In 1962, Ray was elected Mayor of Port Hueneme and Laura served by his side as First Lady for 12 years.
Laura involved herself richly in the community and participated in many local service organizations, such as Friends of the Bard Mansion, Friends of the Ray D. Prueter Library, Rotary, and the Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few. She served as President of Hueneme Beautiful from 1995-96 and President of the Pt. Mugu-Hueneme Women's Council of Navy League in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Both she and Ray were named as Citizen of the Year and given Life Memberships by the Chamber of Commerce.
Although she would not readily admit it, Laura was artistically talented, especially in watercolors. Several of her works are proudly owned by family members.
Later in life she was an Administrative Assistant for the Chamber of Commerce for 7 ½ years, leaving at the end of January 2006.
In 2006, she and Ray returned to her beloved Big Sky Country with daughter, Diane and her husband Barry. Her great love, Ray, passed in 2008, just shy of their 57th anniversary.
Laura was a sweet, quiet spirit, always putting her needs behind others. She had a great sense of humor and took kidding like a champ. Her giggle was memorable and it was markedly present when she was nervous. Although short in stature, she had an unwavering strength and commanded respect from the entire family.
Her family was her pride and joy. She would drop everything to spend time with her daughters and their husbands, grandchildren, and great granddaughters, and it was always a good day to be surrounded by them. She taught them all the importance of family and her love for them was unconditional. She will be greatly missed.
Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Ray, her parents Harry and Helen, her brothers, John, Sr. and Ralph, and her sister, Mary.
She is survived by daughter, Denise (Jerry) Taylor and granddaughter, Jillian Taylor, Bozeman, MT, Diane (Barry) DeChaine, Anaconda, MT, grandson, David (Ty) Bird in Ground, Phoenix, AZ, grandson Michael (Sue) Sebastian, Mesa, AZ, granddaughter Jocelyn (Shaun) Wharton and great granddaughters, Abby and Ellie Wharton, Bothell, WA.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Copper Ridge Health and Rehabilitation in Butte, MT for their loving care, comfort, and support during her residency.
A celebration of Laura's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Anaconda at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017.
Memorials can be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 319 Main St., Anaconda, MT 59711, Friends of the Ray D. Prueter Library, P.O. Box 532, Port Hueneme, CA 93044-0532, or a favorite children's organization.
4th St. and Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
4th St. and Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Shortly after graduating, she ventured to Southern California to work for Douglas Aircraft and aid in the war time effort. She delivered plans to the engineers throughout the plant on roller skates.
It was in California that she would meet the love of her life, Ray Prueter. They started out as neighbors and friends, but he soon won her heart and they were married at the Little Chapel of the Dawn in Santa Monica on May 26, 1951. Laura and Ray moved to Port Hueneme, CA, a sleepy little town north of Los Angeles. They were blessed with two daughters, Denise Lynne and Diane Rae.
In 1954 Laura began teaching in the Hueneme Elementary School District and taught for 18 years. She was selected as "Miss Peach" during her tenure in a contest held by the local newspaper. She loved teaching and was fondly remembered by many students throughout the years.
In 1962, Ray was elected Mayor of Port Hueneme and Laura served by his side as First Lady for 12 years.
Laura involved herself richly in the community and participated in many local service organizations, such as Friends of the Bard Mansion, Friends of the Ray D. Prueter Library, Rotary, and the Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few. She served as President of Hueneme Beautiful from 1995-96 and President of the Pt. Mugu-Hueneme Women's Council of Navy League in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Both she and Ray were named as Citizen of the Year and given Life Memberships by the Chamber of Commerce.
Although she would not readily admit it, Laura was artistically talented, especially in watercolors. Several of her works are proudly owned by family members.
Later in life she was an Administrative Assistant for the Chamber of Commerce for 7 ½ years, leaving at the end of January 2006.
In 2006, she and Ray returned to her beloved Big Sky Country with daughter, Diane and her husband Barry. Her great love, Ray, passed in 2008, just shy of their 57th anniversary.
Laura was a sweet, quiet spirit, always putting her needs behind others. She had a great sense of humor and took kidding like a champ. Her giggle was memorable and it was markedly present when she was nervous. Although short in stature, she had an unwavering strength and commanded respect from the entire family.
Her family was her pride and joy. She would drop everything to spend time with her daughters and their husbands, grandchildren, and great granddaughters, and it was always a good day to be surrounded by them. She taught them all the importance of family and her love for them was unconditional. She will be greatly missed.
Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Ray, her parents Harry and Helen, her brothers, John, Sr. and Ralph, and her sister, Mary.
She is survived by daughter, Denise (Jerry) Taylor and granddaughter, Jillian Taylor, Bozeman, MT, Diane (Barry) DeChaine, Anaconda, MT, grandson, David (Ty) Bird in Ground, Phoenix, AZ, grandson Michael (Sue) Sebastian, Mesa, AZ, granddaughter Jocelyn (Shaun) Wharton and great granddaughters, Abby and Ellie Wharton, Bothell, WA.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Copper Ridge Health and Rehabilitation in Butte, MT for their loving care, comfort, and support during her residency.
A celebration of Laura's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Anaconda at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017.
Memorials can be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 319 Main St., Anaconda, MT 59711, Friends of the Ray D. Prueter Library, P.O. Box 532, Port Hueneme, CA 93044-0532, or a favorite children's organization.
Celebration of Life
APR 15. 11:00 AM (MDT)
First Presbyterian Church4th St. and Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Visitation
APR 15. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (MDT)
First Presbyterian Church4th St. and Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
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