Arcelia F. Rohletter, age 91, of White Sulphur Springs

Arcelia Rohletter, 91, passed away in the evening at her home, on August 21, 2016. Ironically, she passed 35 years to the day of her late husband, Erfort Rohletter. She lived and cared for herself after his death, was proud to be independent, was in excellent health for her age, lived a long fulfilled life and departed with a current driver’s license and perfect vision.

Born Margarite Arcelia Forkin, on a 40 below zero night of December 5, 1924, in the County of Meagher, at the family home on Willow Creek three miles East of White Sulphur Springs, MT. Born the only daughter of Michael Joseph and Mary Ellen Toohey/Towey Forkin.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Michael and Mary Forkin; siblings, James Edward, Thomas Joseph, Michael Francis, and John Weaver Forkin; husband, Erfort Rohletter. She was saddened to be the lone survivor of her immediate family.

Living a very independent life she would often be seen trimming her hedges, stirring up dust while riding her lawn mower, shoveling her driveway, visiting at the local nursing home or Senior Center. She attended many a school activity. And she told many that she had a job, a very important job, of feeding Bob’s barn cats that she counted and reported on while she was in charge of Willow Creek. Gatherings of friends and family and “Chicken at the Mint” get-togethers gave her reason to dress up, show up and keep us all listening to her stories of the past and at times, correcting our input with her accuracy of what really happened.

In 2001, Gail and Arcelia set out to document the genealogy of the Forkin, Toohey/Towey, Rohletter, Turpin families. Many an hour was spent at the computer recording Arcelia’s documents, clippings, invitation, notes, etc. until a printed document could put the info into a timeline. With that in hand, they spent many a day together on the road visiting family, friends and cemeteries in search of kin. The locating of the cousins from England and Ireland brought endless joy of finally locating Arcelia’s grandfather buried in England.

Arcelia was born with the “gift of gab”, loved her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren beyond measure, she never met a stranger, possessed an unbelievable memory of local history, was known for always having a camera in hand to record the day/event, took pride of recording and documenting the history of the St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, and not only was she a faithful wife, homemaker, caring mother/grandmother, friend to many, she was also an award winning water color artist.

She is survived by daughter, Gail Frances Rohletter Gardiner and son-in-law Robert J (Bob) Gardiner of White Sulphur Springs, MT; grandchildren, Schalene Nicole Gardiner Kraft of Missoula, MT and Jaxon Ty Gardiner and his wife Karla R. Ronneberg of Big Timber, MT; great grandchildren, Michael M. Kraft of Bozeman, MT, Peyton J. Kraft of Missoula, MT, Kade Earl, Dillon Erfort, and Kaitlynn Renee Gardiner of Big Timber, MT.

Also surviving are a sister-in-law Freida, nieces and nephews and numerous cousins, residing in White Sulphur Springs, Great Falls, Helena, Butte, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Missoula, Clyde Park, and Belgrade, MT as well as others residing in the states of Utah, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, California, and we must not forget her Irish/English kin from across the pond in England and Ireland that have visited her in the United States.