Julie Kay Brooks

Julie Kay Brooks Julie Kay Brooks died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016 at her residence in Anaconda. She was 54 years old. She was born July 12, 1963, in Duluth, Minnesota. Julie was raised on a farm, where she learned how to drive at a young age. This skill allowed Julie to become one of the first female truckers to drive freight across the country, helping to pave the way for women in a man's world. She took to the road at an early age as a relief driver to see the country and take her pictures. She was well known among CB operators under her handle "Tangerine Dream." Julie also was active in rodeo for a number of years until she had to retire from it, though she never lost her passion for horses. Her other great love was gardening, enjoying many hours planting flowers. Julie's life journey eventually brought her to Anaconda, where she met and fell in love with Mike Eldridge, her common-law husband who also had loaded freight in some of the same towns where she had driven. Although their paths may have crossed many times without their realizing it, they finally met in the same Montana town where they spent the best nine-and-a-half years of their lives together. Julie is survived by her mother, Carolyn Benson of Saginaw, Minnesota, sister Stefany Benson and special niece Bristol Benson, both of Carlton, Minnesota, as well as her aunt and uncle, Shirley and Wally Pfister, cousins Tom and Gwen Pfister and Kylee and Ashley Edmunds, all of Duluth, Minnesota. She is also survived by her best friend, Mary Ann Kiddle. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Mamie Hansen, her stepfather, Pete Benson, best friend, Barb Erickson, friend and gardening mentor, Judy Carnes, and friend, Carol Metz. Services will be held at Living Waters Church on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. with one hour of visitation prior to the service. Interment will follow at New Hill Cemetery. Any truckers or CB operators as well as rodeo people who may remember Julie are welcome to attend.

Visitation

DEC 3. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (MST)

Living Waters Church 5th and Chestnut Anaconda, MT

Service

DEC 3. 10:30 AM (MST)

Living Waters Church 5th and Chestnut Anaconda, MT