2 weeks Ago
June 19, 1940 - April 11, 2025 Merle "Sweet" Rathbun, 84, of Absarokee, Montana, died April 11, 2025, at home surrounded by family and friends. She was born June 19, 1940, in Butte, Montana, to Frank and Violet (Johnson) Sweet. She was the oldest of 3 siblings.
She graduated from Whitehall High School in 1958. She married the love of her life, Ernie Rathbun on May 16,1973. She was employed by Mountain Bell in Dillon, Montana as a telephone operator and worked at Montana Power in Billings, Montana for over 30 years from which she retired.
She also worked at the Absarokee High School and Stillwater Lodge until she fully retired at age 80. She did volunteer work at the Absarokee Evangelical Church. One of her favorite jobs was praying for the children during Vacation Bible School.
She loved visiting with family and friends, crocheting, puzzles, her animals, yardwork and bowling. Merle was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Violet; her husband, Ernie; and her sister, Francis Sweet Hager. She is survived by her brother Ralph (Ailing Lu) Sweet of Waterloo, Montana; nephew Frank Sweet of Waterloo, Montana; niece Nolita (Sean) Becker of Helena; step son Tim (Dawn) Rathbun of Byers, Colorado and many other nieces, nephews and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 27 at the Absarokee Evangelical Church, 34 N.
Woodard, in Absarokee, Montana. Condolences can be shared with the family at smithfuneralchapels.com .
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