Dolores "Dee" Leroux

Dolores "Dee" Collins LeRoux, 69, of Hamilton passed peacefully on February 1, 2012, in Corvallis with her family by her side.

Dee was born Dec. 6, 1942, in Van Nuys, CA, to Virgil and Eleanor (Thiel) Collins. She spent most of her youth in and around the Barstow, CA, area. She graduated from Barstow High School in 1960.

In 1964, she married Joe LeRoux and resided in Yermo, CA. In 1977, they moved to Missoula, MT, and then to the Bitterroot Valley in 1979.

Dee worked several different jobs but found her calling when she went to work at Bitterroot Nursery. She truly enjoyed sharing her knowledge of plants with everyone that came into the nursery and worked there for 21 years.

Dee was an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church; sponsoring new members, very involved in Bible study and making an appearance at nearly every dinner and fish fry. The Church community was an important and sustaining part of her life. She was also a long time member of the Corvallis Grange.

Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Joe LeRoux, her parents, Virgil and Eleanor Collins and her brother Ronald Collins.

She is survived by her three daughters and their families: Marie whom is married to Scott with children Rob and Ceara Nicholson of Corvallis, MT; Dianne, married to Robert with children Jake and Justin Young of Rosemark, TN; and Monica, married to David with daughter Katherine Chmielewski of Gilbert, AZ, and son Rick LeRoux of Buffalo, NY.

The family suggests memorials to Marcus Daly Hospice Endowment Fund, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton, MT 59840.