Grace Stringer McBride

May 20, 2022


Grace E. Stringer was born the first of four children to Ervin and Opal (Lil) Stringer of Medicine Lake, MT. She was born into a homesteading family, and her love of the land was great. She enjoyed animals of all kinds. She attended school in Medicine Lake and was part of the Speech and Debate team and the Saddle Club. After graduating high school, she married Gene Norvald. They divorced and she moved to Malta where she was a waitress for the Pray family. Her sister Donna also lived there. She married again to Ernie Demarais, and they divorced, and she moved to the big city of Great Falls. Working for Tommy’s 2D and the Schell family she caught the eye of Charles McBride, a Marine stationed at Gore Hill. They married in January of 1958 and danced their way around the U.S. landing in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, back to California, and finally back home to Montana. They had purchased lots in Cascade, as they knew after Chuck retired, that would be home.

Grace and Chuck’s first daughter, Leatha, was born in Great Falls, MT. Their son, Charles T. was born on Camp Pendleton, CA. Next was Lilly in Mankato, MN. Jenny followed in San Diego, CA, and Mary was born at Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, completing the family.

Grace was active with Girl Scouts, was an Alderwomen for Cascade, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Driftwood Drill Team, and helped wherever she could. In 1971, they purchased the Sportsman Club from Tom Klock. Chuck and Grace divorced in 1973 and both continued to live in Cascade.

Grace continued to run the Club and make many friends over the years. She sold it in 1982 to Mike Hamilton. Her adventure changed when she went to work for Shopko. She soon worked her way up to a manager position through hard work and dedication. Her work ethic was a continuation of being brought up on the farm. Grace worked for Shopko and reopened the Sportsman’s Club until she suffered from strokes in 2008. She mended and contented herself with her horses on the 20 acres place she had built outside of Cascade.

Grace loved watching the horses run, was a history buff, and a doting grandmother to her many grandchildren. Most everyone called her “Granny,” a title she held well. She helped a lot of people whenever she could and went out of her way to deliver something back from Great Falls if it would save someone a trip to town. She was a wonderful seamstress, making clothes for her kids and grandkids, and creating quilts.

She liked to learn and took Adult Education classes in welding, carpentry, and stained glass. She loved to travel and made trips to Italy, France, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Canada, and visited Guam. She traveled the U. S. extensively.

She loved to play cards and was wicked with her grandchildren if they showed up to play Hand and Foot. She also played pinochle, cribbage and euchre. She enjoyed playing piano, shot a mean game of pool, and never met a pair of high heels she did not like.

Grace was a fun-loving spirit who lived life to the fullest. We were grateful and lucky to have her as long as we did. She is survived by daughters, Leatha (Rick) Thayer of Mountain Home, ID, Lilly (Dale) LeVeque of Cascade, MT, Jenny Patton of Flatonia, TX, and Mary (Eric) Ball of Helena, MT; brother, Leland Stringer of Butte, MT; sister, Bonnie Lee (Hugo) Andersen of Cascade, MT; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, and nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Opal (Lil) Stringer; sister, Donna; brother-in-law, Art Halvorson; sister-in-law, Shirl Stringer; son, Charles T. McBride; grandson, Trevor Ball; and all of Chuck’s siblings and spouses whom she remained close with over the years.

We will celebrate her life on July 9, 2022, at the Wedsworth Hall in Cascade, MT from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to come share stories and toast a life well lived.

Schedule of Services

Celebration Of Life

Wedsworth Hall

Grace's Guestbook


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