Yvonne Marie Velarde, age 91, of Helena

Yvonne Marie Velarde (born Mary Yvonne Stimson) September 13th, 1934 – March 17th, 2026

Yvonne Marie Velarde, born Mary Yvonne Stimson, found her treasure at the end of the rainbow when she went home to Jesus at the age of 91 at her home on March 17th, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones. If you know her well, then you know she loved her strong Irish heritage (you can tell just from the red hair) so she couldn’t have picked a better day to meet our lord and savior.

Yvonne was born on Friday September 13th, 1934, on the lake in Whitefish, Mt. to Dave and Lola Stimson (Hurst). She spent her early childhood in Eureka, Mt. and later lived and went to school in Great Falls, Mt. where she stayed till the late 1940s.

Her next stop was Helena, Mt. where she met her first husband Robert LaPier in 1951. After their marriage they moved to California because Robert was enlisted in the Air Force. After his service was complete, they returned to Helena where Yvonne gave birth to her first daughter Lola in 1956. They later divorced and she then met and married Joe Velarde in 1958.

During her time with Joe, she was a wife, mom, and a homemaker and they had 5 kids together. They spent time together at the historic Pauley Ranch in Montana, a ranch in Deer Lodge and a ranch on Ruby River Reservoir in Sheridan, Mt. Her 2nd daughter, Sheila was born in Idaho Falls in 1958 and from there their next stop was Colorado. They stayed there helping Joe’s father on his homestead until her 3rd daughter, JoAnn was born in 1961 in Fruita, Colorado. From there they went to Idaho, where they both worked for the Webster Potato Farms in many areas. During their time in Idaho, she had 3 more children. Her one and only son Stephan, born in 1962 in Rigby, Id. Her 4th daughter Lillian, born in 1963 in Idaho Falls, and her 5th daughter Patsy, was born in 1967 in Rexburg, Id.

Her and Joe went their separate ways a few years later. She spent some time working in Rexburg and Boise before returning to Helena in 1973. From that point forward she worked many jobs and always did what she needed to do to get through life with her children. She worked in restaurants, a grocery store and Woolworths 5 and Dime, and in 1976 she gave birth to her 6th daughter Brandy. She then continued to work and was a bartender, waitress and Administrative Assistant before retiring.

Amidst all this, her greatest joy was time spent with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Often having more than 50 of them at Thanksgiving and Christmas, where she insisted on doing all the cooking. She was a strong Irish woman who made the best food, and she loved to share anything she could with her family. She was most proud of the beautiful bloodline she created full of vibrant native American and Irish backgrounds, and she pointed that out to everyone she could. Her family was her life. She was also a voracious reader, and her knowledge of all things was amazing. Her favorite show was Jeopardy, and she knew more answers than you could even think possible. She did all the major crossword puzzles…in pen. She had a great sense of humor and loved life, even when it was hard and she always found a way to help others love life the same. Her love for animals showed strong in her Knick knacks. Specifically, dogs, cats, goats, cows, roosters.

She really loved everything Montana and Eureka, her first home in Montana, was her favorite place. She loved to plant beautiful flowers and loved being outdoors. She loved GOD and she knew where she would spend eternity and that in itself showed how amazing she is.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her father Dave Stimsom, Mother Lola (Hurst) Page and Gene Page her daughters Sheila Irene Velarde and JoAnn Marie Copeland. Her granddaughter Fawn Williams.

She is survived by her children Lola (Dan) Hagerty Whitehall, MT., Stephan (Claudia) Velarde Helena, Mt., Lillian (Brent) Bucy Helena, Mt., Patsy (Keith) Goble Billings, Mt., Brandy (Charlie) Armstrong Great Falls, Mt.

She has 24 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren and many great, great grandchildren and cousins.

She will have a Memorial service on Saturday, March 28^th  at 1:00 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke and Retz Funeral Home 3750 N Montana Ave. Helena, Mt. Followed by a reception. Her remains will be interred at the Homestead in the Yaak valley this summer.

Service Schedule

Celebration of Her Life

1:00pm

Saturday March 28, 2026

Anderson Stevenson Wilke and Retz Funeral Home

3750 N Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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Reception

Following the Memorial Service

Saturday March 28, 2026

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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