{"id":32781,"date":"2026-03-11T12:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/?post_type=case&p=32781"},"modified":"2026-03-17T12:09:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:09:56","slug":"susan-d-debree-age-78-of-helena","status":"publish","type":"case","link":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/obituaries\/susan-d-debree-age-78-of-helena\/","title":{"rendered":"Susan D. DeBree, age 78, of Helena"},"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":{"0":"post-32781","1":"case","2":"type-case","3":"status-publish","5":"entry","6":"has-post-thumbnail"},"acf":[],"fields":{"first_name":"Susan","middle_name":"Diane","last_name":"DeBree","date_born":"10\/17\/1947","date_died":"03\/10\/2026","age":"78","city":"Helena","state":"Montana","full_obituary_text":"

St. John’s Live Stream<\/a><\/h2>\n

Susan Diane DeBree passed away on March 10, 2026, in Billings, Montana, after a long illness. She was born October 17, 1947, to Jean P. and Nan M. DeBree and was the second of three children. She grew up on the Lone Pine Ranch in Birdseye, Montana.<\/p>\n

As a young girl, Susan enjoyed horseback riding, picking huckleberries near Thompson Falls, and camping with her family. She was active in 4-H and enjoyed playing the viola. At the age of 16, she began working at Anderson Motors. After graduating from Helena High School in 1965, she worked at Cosart Volkswagen, where she once purchased a 1955 Ford for her younger sister Louise for $35. Later, the Ford was traded in for a Volkswagen valued at $200.<\/p>\n

In 1966, Susan married Bill Greenfield, and together they welcomed two children, Michelle Lynn in 1967 and Charles \u201cChas\u201d in 1969. After their marriage ended, she later married Lyle Massaro. During that time, she helped raise Richard Massaro and in 1974 welcomed her youngest son, Lenny.<\/p>\n

Susan and Lyle became co-owners of Valley Mazda in Bozeman. In 1976, the family moved to Helena and opened Personal Pontiac.<\/p>\n

In 1977, Susan, along with her brother Kenneth DeBree and sister Louise, purchased the family ranch. For the next 12 years they raised their families there, creating many cherished memories through holiday gatherings and winter sledding on the large hill behind their home. In 1988, Susan and her family moved to Bozeman, where she worked as a comptroller at Bozeman Ford.<\/p>\n

The ranch was sold in 1990. Several years later Susan divorced and became a single mother, raising her children and supporting them through college.<\/p>\n

In 2001, Susan returned to Helena with her husband Rick Moran. During the next 15 years she enjoyed retirement and many fulfilling pursuits. She participated in a writing group and eventually published a book reflecting on her childhood adventures and life lessons on the Lone Pine Ranch.<\/p>\n

Susan was an avid quilter and regularly met with her sewing group, creating many beautiful quilts that she gifted to family members. In her free time, she enjoyed playing Pinochle and board games such as Aggravation and Cribbage with friends and family.<\/p>\n

She loved fishing, camping, and spending time at her cabin in Seeley Lake, which she purchased after her divorce and enjoyed for many years. Susan loved animals and always had a beloved furry companion nearby. She was a bright light in her family and will be deeply missed.<\/p>\n

Susan is survived by her sister Louise (Les) Cramer; her sons Chas Grace Klisis (Catie Greene) and Lenny (Jodi) Massaro; her stepson Richard (Julie) Massaro; and her grandchildren Matthew, Rachael, Logan, Alyssa, Sophia, Livianna, Tia, Kallie, and Courtney. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Brailyn Sage, Keelie, Hailey, Brody, and Jayce; her nephew Sam; her nieces Ivy, Angel, Charmaine, Barbara, and Lyn; and several first cousins.<\/p>\n

She was preceded in death by her father Jean, her mother Nan, her brother Kenneth, and her daughter Michelle.<\/p>\n

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Rick Moran and his daughter Melissa, as well as Janet Hulme, for their care and support during Susan\u2019s final days.<\/p>\n

Susan was a longtime member of St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church in Helena. A celebration of life will be held on March 19, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church, 1000 Helena Avenue in Helena, Montana, with a reception to follow. Burial at Forestvale Cemetery will take place after the reception.<\/p>\n

Memorial donations in Susan\u2019s name may be made to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society in Helena.<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Susan-DeBree-Obit-photo-1.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","service_status":"public","event_title1":"Funeral Service","event_date1":"2026-03-19","start_time1":"10:30 a.m.","end_time1":"","location1":"St. John's Lutheran Church","address1":"1000 Helena Avenue","city1":"Helena","state1":"Montana","zipcode1":"59601","event_title2":"Reception","event_date2":"2026-03-19","start_time2":"Immediately following the funeral service","end_time2":"","location2":"Lower Level of the Church","address2":"","city2":"","state2":"","zipcode2":"","event_title3":"Burial","event_date3":"2026-03-19","start_time3":"Approximately 1:00 p.m.","end_time3":"","location3":"Forestvale Cemetery","address3":"","city3":"Helena","state3":"Montana","zipcode3":"","event_title4":"","event_date4":"","start_time4":"","end_time4":"","location4":"","address4":"","city4":"","state4":"","zipcode4":"","event_title5":"","event_date5":"","start_time5":"","end_time5":"","location5":"","address5":"","city5":"","state5":"","zipcode5":"","event_title6":"","event_date":"","start_time6":"","end_time6":"","location6":"","address6":"","city6":"","state6":"","zipcode6":"","event_title7":"","event_date7":"","start_time7":"","end_time7":"","location7":"","address7":"","city7":"","state7":"","zipcode7":"","event_title8":"","event_date8":"","start_time8":"","end_time8":"","location8":"","address8":"","city8":"","state8":"","zipcode8":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/32781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}