On October 20, 2021, Rita Mae Illston rose to her home in heaven. She peacefully assented after her brief battle with cancer ended. Her loving family surrounded her as she made her final journey. Thank you for all the prayers and support.
Rita was born January 8, 1936. She had a very purposeful life, touching many people along the way with strength, kindness, wisdom and most of all love. She enjoyed many hobbies to include gardening with a special love of flowers, painting with watercolors and sewing many beautiful creations. While living in Anaconda for nearly half of her life, she opened “Our Old Time Goodie Factory” on Park and Main which featured homemade ice cream, caramels and other candies, cinnamon rolls, soups and breads for the sandwiches. She was a faithful parishioner of Gateway Fellowship for over twenty years. She enjoyed fishing in Georgetown Lake and hunting for Morel Mushrooms. One of her biggest joys in life was being a grandmother and great grandmother.
Rita joins in heaven her mother Clare, her father Ralph Blair, her stepmother Belle Blair, her husband William (Bill) Illston, her stepbrother Jim Street, her sister-in-law Kimi Blair and several dear friends and relatives. She will be unmeasurably missed by her brother Roger Blair, his children Mike, Leona and Eileen, her brother Jerry, his wife Elizabeth and their child Mark, her stepbrother Dick Street and his child Dick Jr. The greatest loss is to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Daughter Kim and husband Steve Hatcher and their children Jennifer Foster (Darian, Josiah, Heaven, Addison and Keeton), Nichole and husband Glen Wyant, (Roddy and Brody), Bryan Foster, (James and Ayden), Aaron Foster, Hannah (Roman) Parker, Michelle and husband Tyler Bryant, (dog Pongo), Kevin Foster, Jessika Hatcher, (Lilyan), Jade Hatcher, Deidra Hatcher and Blake Hatcher, honorary great grandchildren (David, Mackenzie, Felicia, Issac, Matthew and Donavan) and dog Saadee. Son William (Bill) Illston, son Keith and wife Maryann Illston, their child Christopher (Chris) Illston. She will also be missed by many nieces and nephews and their families, lifelong honorary family members Renee and Tom Tift and family, also Sue and Rod English, Randy Hubbird, John Hubbird, as well as many close and dear friends and family members.
Services will be held at the Gateway Christian Fellowship on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.