Alice Irene Duffey Gottlob

Alice Irene Duffey Gottlob passed away Easter morning, April 4, 2021. She was 93 years young. 

Alice was born on January 24, 1928 to Emma (Pederson) and Sam Duffey and grew up at the family's homestead on Upper Deer Creek, east of Big Timber, Montana. She graduated from Big Timber High School in 1945 and married Keith Gottlob on November 19, 1950. They worked for several ranches throughout Montana before landing on the Lower Madison River working for Buck and Marcia Anderson's Climbing Arrow Ranch. Alice and Keith lived and worked "out on the Madison" for twenty years and raised their five children: Jan, Jeff, Jayson, Julie and Jon. After all the kids graduated from Three Forks High School, Alice and Keith worked the ranch's summer headquarters near Francis, Montana, where Alice cooked for all the hired men for the next ten years.  

Alice and Keith retired and moved to Three Forks in 1991. In 1999, after nearly 50 years of marriage, Alice lost her husband Keith to a heart attack. Alice continued to volunteer at the Three Forks Food Bank, Senior Center and Headwaters Heritage Museum and was an active member of the Methodist Church. 

Alice played whatever hand life dealt her. She was a homemaker, family accountant, animal control officer, truck driver, driver's ed instructor, peace mediator, elk chaser, gardener, snake assassin, mender of clothes and stuffed animals, cinnamon roll magician, a milestone for grandchildren's height, cheerleader, referee, hostess, short-order cook, educator, field medic, jackhammer operator and pinochle champion. 

Alice was proceeded in death by her husband Keith, parents Sam and Emma Duffey, and siblings Martha (Harold) Shipton, Barb (Helmar) Branae, Ed (Vivian) Duffey, John (Shirley) Duffey, and Dave (Jean) Duffey. 

Alice is survived by her children Jan (Henry) Chock of Spokane, Washington; Jeff (Teri) Gottlob of Three Forks, Montana; Jayson (Kathy) Gottlob of Belgrade, Montana; Julie (Mel) Frank of Auburn, Washington; and Jon (Margret) Gottlob of Clancy, Montana. Grandma "Izzy" also lives on through her 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. 

A celebration of life will be held at the United Methodist Church in Three Forks on Saturday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a reception. Internment for immediate family will be held Sunday, May 16 at Mountain View Cemetery in Big Timber.  

Donations in honor of Alice can be made to the Three Forks Food Bank, Senior Center or Headwaters Heritage Museum.