Dolores E. Rapp

MISSOULA – Dolores E. Rapp died of natural causes on Sunday, April 28, 2013.

Dolores was born July 21, 1929, in Kalispell to Raymond and Eleanor Kent. Dolores graduated from Kalispell High School, completed the two-year teaching certificate from Havre at Northern Montana College and then completed her degree at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, in 1954, and completed a minor in library science from the University of Montana in 1977.

Dolores began her teaching career in Joplin and then Libby. In Libby, she met fellow teacher and her future husband, Arthur Rapp. Dolores and Art married June 7, 1954, and were married for 58 years. They lived and worked in schools throughout Montana, including Geyser, Shelby, Forsyth, Denton, Baker, Belfry, Whitehall, Roy and Dodson. Art and Dolores retired to Missoula in 1981, but Dolores continued to substitute teach, and work for H&R Block and as a seamstress for several more years.

Dolores enjoyed time with her family, won Avon's President's Award several times, and appreciated her many close friends and neighbors.

Dolores is survived by her daughters, Deanne Tucker (Keith) of Missoula, Gwen Simonis (Robert) of Troy, Mich., and Melanie Weiss (Richard) of Cleveland; her three granddaughters, Kelsey, Claire and Emily Simonis; aunts, Frances Evans of Missoula and Barbara Busch of Kalispell; cousins, Rick Evans of Missoula and Roger Casteel of Omaha; and close friend Vivian Erickson.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Art in August 2012; and daughter, Danelle Rapp in July 1990.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Summit for Parkinson's, P.O. Box 2235 Missoula, MT 59806, or Missoula Aging Services at 337 Stephens Ave., Missoula, MT 59801.

Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Gwen Simonis, 1843 Farmbrook Drive, Troy, MI 48098, or at missoulafuneralhomes.com.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, May 3, at St. Anthony Catholic Church will Father Gary Reller as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home.

Read Dolores Rapp's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.