Sylvia Marie Gleason

Sylvia Marie Gleason was born to Patrick and Sylvia (Billie) Gleason on February 14, 1949. She was followed by her brother Daniel and sister Linda.

Sylvia was born in Butte, Montana and raised primarily in Deer Lodge (on the Gleason Ranch), as she liked to call it.

Sylvia received her education in Deer Lodge and graduated in 1967 from Powell County High School. After graduation she followed her husband to the Great Lakes area where she worked for the SOLO cup company then on to Long Beach, California where she worked as a teller in a bank while he pursued a naval career. It was there where she became pregnant with her first son, Patrick. She moved home to Deer Lodge to have the support of her family as a single mother. Sylvia remarried and had two more sons, Sean and Cody and gained 3 step sons.  After a few odd jobs she went to work on the furnaces at the Anaconda Smelter to help support her family. When the Anaconda Company closed she pursued her true passion in life, nursing. She received her degree as an LPN from the nursing program in Helena, Montana. She then moved to Shelley, Idaho where she continued her career as a trauma nurse and a nurse for the eye surgery center in Idaho Falls. She had found her niche in nursing, surgery. Sylvia loved the surgical part of nursing so much she decided to further her education with an RN degree from Ricks College.  She moved to Spokane, Washington to be closer to family and went to work for the day surgery center at Sacred Heart Hospital. Always wanting to be closer to her grandchildren she moved back to the Gleason Ranch. She went to work as surgical nurse at the Community Hospital in Anaconda, Montana until her retirement.

After 25 years of being single and swearing she would never get married again the love bug bit her one more time.

In 2016 she found love again at her granddaughters wedding. She and Leonard where married in Reno, Nevada on September 1st 2018 and moved to Nevada. Always home sick for her grandchildren and the Gleason Ranch she would always return to spend her summers there.

Sylvia was a curios soul who loved an adventure no matter how big or small. She traveled to Europe for four weeks with her sister in 1989. Took her father for his first trip to the Grand Canyon and traveled many miles and states with Leonard in their 5th wheel. They had many more trips planned, one in particular was Ireland.

Sylvia was passionate about her family, her friends, her patients, music,  and a good book. She was a voracious reader and consumed them like candy.

Her boys and grandchildren were at the center of her universe. She showered them with love, gifts, money, time and a good talking to if the occasion presented itself.

Sylvia is survived by her beloved Leonard, her sons, Patrick, Sean, Cody and stepsons, Lee, Randy, and Bill. Her sister, Linda Morehouse (Lyle), 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were all family to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and a step son.

Sylvia was the light that shined brighter than sunshine through her kindness, open heart and giving soul. She was the glue that held us altogether and will continue to bond us as one in her love. She was smooth like a Patsy Cline song swaying like a beautiful dance on a summer’s day. She will be forever missed, cherished and loved by all who knew her.

She was called Lulu, Silver, Mom, Sister, Nana and Baby by those closest to her.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye be also.

John 14:2-3

Services will be held in the Community Center of Powell County, 416 Cottonwood Ave., Deer Lodge, MT, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023. A graveside service will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, W. Milwaukee Ave., Deer Lodge, MT, with a luncheon after at the Community Center. Dishes, salads, etc. are welcomed and appreciated by the family if brought.

Please visit the sidebar to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Sylvia.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Sylvia and her family.