Mary Ann Fee (Miller), 86, died February 15, 2026, in Helena. Mary Ann was born at Saint John Hospital, in Helena, Montana on August 18,\u00a01939,\u00a0to Gladys Stumvoll and John Miller.<\/p>\n
Mary Ann was raised in Elliston, Montana where she attended 1<\/span>st<\/sup>\u00a0-8<\/span>th<\/sup>\u00a0grades\u00a0at Elliston Elementary\u00a0and\u00a09<\/span>th<\/sup>-11<\/span>th<\/sup>\u00a0grades at\u00a0Powell County\u00a0High School\u00a0in Dee Lodge. She would obtain her GED\u00a0in 1969\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0attend Helena Vo-Tech. She was honored with receiving her Professional Legal Secretary\u00a0(PLS) certificate, making her 18th\u00a0for the state of Montana\u00a0in 1987.\u00a0Mary Ann took\u00a0great pride\u00a0in her work as a PLS.\u00a0She worked for 23 years\u00a0for\u00a0Gough, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman Law Firm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mary Ann married Wesley Wallace in 1956. This marriage produced three children, Eugene,\u00a0Lorraine,\u00a0and Tary. While Wes worked as a miner, Mary Ann was a wonderful homemaker and did her best to provide.\u00a0Due to Wes\u2019s career, the family moved from place to place frequently.\u00a0The marriage dissolved in 1974, and Mary Ann settled back into her life in Elliston. After a short marriage to John Quigley III, she finally found the love of her life, John Arther Fee.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>The pair were happily married on July 3<\/span>rd<\/sup>, 1982. John loved his \u2018Old Bag\u2019 more than he loved his Rainier and Lucky Strikes, which, if you knew John, was almost impossible. The two moved into a beautiful home in Helena with a large sunroom, where Mary Ann took\u00a0great pride\u00a0in hosting family gatherings. The vast yard filled with fruit trees, rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, horseradish, large willow\u00a0trees\u00a0and a paved patio provided the perfect entertaining space outside as well. The pair enjoyed tending to their large vegetable\u00a0garden and\u00a0canning all the \u201cfruits of their labor.\u201d They could often be found at their favorite \u2018watering hole\u2019 where they spent the evenings laughing and enjoying friends\u2019 company. This favored couple\u00a0were\u00a0inseparable until John passed in 1995.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After John\u2019s passing, she found comfort from her friends at the \u2018watering hole\u2019 and Mary Ann filled her time with the game of horseshoes and helped orchestrate the pits being built. She cherished being the team captain for many years. Although many cars were dented and bruises were made, it was obvious how much\u00a0passion she had\u00a0for this sport. The horseshoe team called her \u201cMA.\u201d The whole league knew when they played MA\u2019s team they were bound to have a delightful time. Her infectious smile, kind words, contagious\u00a0laugh\u00a0and ingenious sense of humor drew everyone in. She will always be\u00a0greatly loved\u00a0by her horseshoe community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout her life, Mary Ann loved to be outdoors. Hunting, fishing, gardening, and observing beautiful scenery are just a few of the things she loved to do. Mary Ann, her parents John and Gladys Miller, and John Fee would travel all the way to Westport, Washington to catch and bring home salmon. She also relished her time with family and friends at the cabin built by her father, John Miller, and his brothers. It was there where she created so many wonderful memories of hunting, fishing, and watching her children and grandchildren grow. After her father passed, the cabin, and the land it sits on, was reclaimed by the Forest Service. The cabin is still standing today and can be found up the Little Blackfoot, where family still frequently visit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Traveling was also a passion\u00a0of\u00a0Mary Ann\u2019s. She\u00a0enjoyed many travels including an\u00a0Alaskan cruise with her daughter,\u00a0Lorri,\u00a0and a solo trip to Germany\u00a0where\u00a0she\u00a0visited her\u00a0grandson, Jake,\u00a0who was stationed\u00a0there.\u00a0On every trip,\u00a0far and wide, she collected spoons. She\u00a0proudly\u00a0had\u00a0on\u00a0display\u00a0over\u00a070 spoons to show off all her wonderful\u00a0traveling\u00a0adventures.\u00a0While Mary Ann enjoyed her time outdoors, she also enjoyed indoor activities such as reading,\u00a0jigsaw\u00a0puzzles, scrapbooking, coin collecting\u00a0and playing cards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mary Ann was preceded in death by John Fee (husband),\u00a0Tary\u00a0Mellon (daughter), Donna Weber (sister), George Miller (brother), Gladys and John Miller (parents)\u00a0and many extended family members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mary Ann is survived by her son, Eugene\u00a0Wallace\u00a0and wife,\u00a0Laura of\u00a0Avon; daughter,\u00a0Lorraine Bigelow of Helena;\u00a0niece, Julie McKenna (Weber) of Helena; nephews, John Weber of Helena;\u00a0Ron\u00a0Weber and wife Kari of Helena;\u00a0grandchildren, Jacob\u00a0Wallace of Texas;\u00a0Andrew\u00a0Wallace and wife, Jen of Helena;\u00a0Rebecca\u00a0(Wallace) and\u00a0husband\u00a0Jarred Griffith of Arkansas;\u00a0Camillia\u00a0(Bigelow) and\u00a0husband,\u00a0Shane Vincent-Seward of Helena; Katrina (Bigelow) and\u00a0husband,\u00a0Casey\u00a0Guse\u00a0of Helena;\u00a0Dustin\u00a0Mellen\u00a0and wife, KT of Massachusetts;\u00a0great-grandchildren, Hailey Wallace; Alicia Wallace; Arianna Wallace; Lexi Wallace;\u00a0Jolene Wallace;\u00a0Laiden\u00a0Wallace; Darryl Wallace;\u00a0Tyler\u00a0(Kassidy) Bigelow; Zach Bigelow; Kyle\u00a0Engdahl; Johnny Bieber;\u00a0MyKayla\u00a0Smith;\u00a0Addyson\u00a0Guse; Braxton\u00a0Guse; Elouise\u00a0Guse; JD\u00a0Mellen; Charlie\u00a0Mellen; Izzy\u00a0Mellen\u00a0and great-great-grandchild,\u00a0Peyton Bigelow;\u00a0as\u00a0well as\u00a0extended family members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The family wishes to express special appreciation to the staff of Cooney Rehab for their\u00a0thoughtful care and support for Mary Ann,\u00a0assisting\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0attain\u00a0the best quality of life\u00a0possible and\u00a0maintain\u00a0independence,\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0part,\u00a0for\u00a0the last 4 years.\u00a0Thank you so much.\u00a0We are\u00a0truly grateful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Mary Ann\u2019s name to the Elliston\u00a0Cemetery\u00a0or an organization of your choice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mary-Ann-Fee-Obit-photo.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","service_status":"public","event_title1":"Celebration of Her Life","event_date1":"2026-03-14","start_time1":"11:00 a.m.","end_time1":"","location1":"Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home","address1":"3750 N. 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