Althea Rae Hathaway

Hamilton – Althea Simpson Hathaway, 73 of Hamilton, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2020.

Better known as Thea, she was born November 22, 1946 in Iowa to Quentin and Rachel Simpson.  They resided in North Dakota for four years when her parents divorced.

Her mother returned to Iowa with Thea and her brother, Jim, where she was raised.  Thea’s mother remarried Robert Pedersen whom they called “Daddy Bob.”  She later had 2 more brothers, Walter and Gene.

In 1964, after graduating from High School, Thea drove her mother and brothers to Missoula, MT to join their father.  Thea enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) which became a special memorable time in her life.  After basic training she was trained as a Personnel Specialist at Ft. Jackson South Carolina.  While stationed in California she married A. Schneider.  Upon her Honorable Discharge, they moved to New York, with a brief stop in Montana for the birth of her daughter Denise.  Two years later she had her second daughter Sherry.

The family moved to Florida where Thea was employed with the State of Florida’s Fish and Game Commission.  In 1978, after a divorce, Thea moved back to Montana with her 2 daughters.  She was employed by the Missoula City/County Health Dept. and later Missoula County Personnel Dept.

She met Lee Hathaway in 1979.  They enjoyed many activities, bowling, camping and dancing.  They were together for 37 years, until his death in 2017.

Thea had many interests and hobbies.  She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #32 Auxiliary for over 30 years.  She played the piano and accordion and enjoyed dancing.  Thea also did Native American crafts and sold them throughout Western Montana.  She loved animals and always had cats and dogs wherever she lived.

Surviving include her daughters, Denise (Steve) Bata of FL., Sherry (Brian) Hathaway of Hamilton, MT; stepdaughter, Janet Hathaway of WA; grandchildren, Rory (Rebekah) Schneider of CT., Steffan (Alex) Schneider of CT., Tiffany (Adam) Munoz of IA., Kira (Kyle) Warmuth of WI., Shanna (Ty) Lynch of MN., Brianna and Brooke Hathaway of MT; great grandchildren, Rhett Lee Schneider of CT. and Everly and Sawyer Warmuth of WI; brothers, Walter Pedersen of Missoula, MT and Gene (Cindy) Pedersen of Missoula. MT; sister-in-law, Kathy Simpson, Jan Hathaway, Marcia Pedersen and several nieces and nephews.

Thea was preceded in death by her husband, Lee; parents, Rachel (Robert) Pedersen and father, Quentin J. Simpson Sr.; brother, Quentin J. Simpson Jr.; sister, Vera Mae Simpson and step-son, Blake Hathaway.

The family would like to thank Dr. Linford, Dr. Weinberger and Hospice for their care.

Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton. 

The family suggests memorials in Thea’s name to the Bitterroot Humane Society or the Missoula Humane Society.

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