One Nation, Under God

Nellie Rosalyn Midge Sherman

Nellie Rosalyn Midge Sherman of Butte, Mont., a former Dodson School Superintendent, (88) passed away in Great Falls, Mont., on June 30, 2020. She is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Nellie Rosalyn was born on March 11, 1932, at her family’s homestead on the Bootlegger Trail east of Ledger, Mont. She was the youngest of six children that were born to Robert and Myrtle Midge.

She was known as “Nellie” to many, but as “Rosalyn” to others.

Nellie Rosalyn attended Conrad High School and graduated there in 1949.

Nellie met her future husband, William “Bill” Baker Sherman, in the summer of 1949. They were married on October 14, 1950, in Deer Lodge, Mont.. They lived in various cities (Wichita, Kansas; Kalispell, Shelby, Missoula, and Billings, Mont.) before settling in Conrad, Mont., where Bill established a law practice.

Nellie Rosalyn became a teacher for a one-room schoolhouse in 1965; she had a two-year teaching certificate at that time. In July of 1971, Nellie completed a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at the College of Great Falls. She taught at several schools, including Grandview School near Valier, Higgins School near Ledger, Brady Elementary School, and Meadowlark Elementary School in Conrad. Nellie was elected Pondera County Superintendent of Schools and served in that position from 1979-1982. During her tenure as county superintendent, she completed her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Montana (June 1981).

In 1982, Nellie was selected as superintendent of the elementary school in Sun River, where she was an administrator until 1989. After the consolidation of the Sun River Valley Schools, she became superintendent in Dodson, Montana, where she retired in 1995 after 30 years as an educator. She was one of the first woman superintendents in Montana. People that worked for Nellie when she was an administrator said that she displayed an effective, yet understanding, leadership style. She would take charge of schools that were not doing well and quickly elevate the educational standards.

Nellie maintained friendships in the Dodson area. She often reminisced about meaningful and enjoyable experiences during her time as an administrator there.

After her retirement and the death of her beloved husband, Nellie Rosalyn spent many years living close to her youngest son, Chris, and his family. They lived in Stateline, Nev., overlooking Lake Tahoe, and then moved to Butte in 2000.

Nellie was an active member of Presbyterian churches in Conrad, Montana; South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; and Butte. She always joined the church choirs wherever she lived and was a great asset to those groups.

Nellie Rosalyn had a warm and outstanding singing voice. She was well-known for this and sang for literally hundreds of weddings, funerals, and special occasions. Nellie was also outgoing, fun-loving, and remarkably beautiful, the life of the party! She had many close friends. She was generous and freely shared her resources with many. She passed on her love of music to her children. She was proud of her family and often commented on how much she loved her children and grandchildren.

Nellie was preceded in death by her cherished husband, Bill (died 1993), and two children, David (died 1994) and Diane (died 2017).

Nellie Rosalyn is survived by two sons: Richard (Eseta) Sherman of King Salmon, Alaska and Christopher “Chris” (Cindy) Sherman of Butte, Mont.; two daughters: Deborah “Debbie” (Daniel “Tuck”) Sheasby of Great Falls, Mont., and Susan “Sue” (Ron) Muir of Lynnwood, Wash.; her sister, Marian Aaberge of Great Falls, Mont.; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

A memorial service is planned; date and location will be announced later in the Phillips County News and the website of O’Connor Funeral home, O’ConnorFuneralHome.com. A more detailed obituary is also available at the O'Connor website.

 

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