Wilhelmina “Willie” M. Ament

Wilhelmina "Willie" M. Ament, aged 99, peacefully passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2018, while surrounded by family and caregivers at the Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings, MT.

Willie was born in Glendive, MT, to John and Mary Heinrich on April 27, 1919. She was raised in Glendive and had eight (8) brothers and sisters.

Willie married Donald L. Ament on February 7, 1941, in Sacramento, CA. They lived in California until 1945, when she and her family moved to Montana and resided in various communities prior to moving to Billings in the fall of 1959, where she lived the rest of her life. She and her husband raised their four (4) children, Judith, Michael, Robert and Kenneth, predominantly in the communities of Glendive, Kalispell and Billings.

Willie worked at J.J. Newberry's store, where she ascended to the position of manager from 1959 through the early 1970s. In the following decades, she provided childcare at her home, where the children addressed her as "Grandma Willie." She prided herself in her rose garden, reading the paper daily "front to back," cooking, baking, telling stories and spending time with her family. Willie loved all animals, especially her cats.

Willie was a humorous soul who loved to tell jokes and stories. She was always caring and sweet to everyone and emanated a compassion to children and animals like no other.

Willie is preceded in death by her husband, Donald (d. 1990); her son, Kenneth (d. 1968); her siblings, Pauline, Frances, Veronica, Clarence, Jerome, John and Bernard. She is survived by her brother, Charles Heinrich; her sons, Michael (Ione) Ament and Robert Ament; and daughter Judy (James) Simpson; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Brown, Brian Brown, Bradley Ament, Danielle Ament, Nicolle Ament, Leah Simpson; and 17 great-grandchildren and five (5) great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Billings Education Foundation and/or the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter.