Lalia Mae Covey

Lalia Mae Covey (Jeter), 91, of Helena, MT, passed away on January 29, 2024, of respiratory failure due to congestive heart failure.

Lalia was born July 12, 1932, in Bozeman, MT, to Margaret and Henry Jeter. Her father passed away when she was 2 years old. Her mother, Margaret, later married Merle Chandler. Lalia spent most of her youth up Bridger Canyon as Merle worked at the Bozeman Fish Hatchery. They later moved into Bozeman, where Lalia graduated high school. She married Edward P. Covey on February 16, 1951.

Lalia and Ed had three children: Margaret Ann, Patricia Lee, and Edward Eugene.

In 1966, Lalia, Ed, and their three children moved to Escondido, CA., where she worked at San Diego Trust and Savings. Lalia and Ed later moved back to Montana to Three Forks, where she retired from Wells Fargo Bank of Bozeman.

Lalia was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Three Forks and loved playing cards and bingo at the Three Forks Senior Center.

In 2022, Lalia moved to Helena, Montana, near her daughter Patricia and lived at the Masonic Home of Helena.

Lalia is preceded in death by her parents, Henry Jeter, stepfather Merle Chandler, mother Margaret Chandler, one brother, James Jeter, and her husband, Edward P. Covey.

She is survived by her three children: daughter Margaret and (Hap) Boyer, their three children, Olivia and (Mike) Geer, Sarah and (Kenny) Warr, and Mary and (Paul) Sterner; daughter Patricia and (Roy) Wherley, their daughter Monique and (Joseph) Slotemaker; and son Edward E Covey and his two children, Elisha Covey and Ivy and (Derek)Verge. Lalia is also survived by nine great-grandchildren.

Lalia was cremated and will be laid to rest with their husband, Ed, on July 13, 2024, at a private burial at the Three Forks Fairview Cemetery.

There will be a Remembrance gathering at the Three Forks Methodist Annex on Saturday, July 13th, at 2:30 pm, coffee and cake will be served. We hope you will join Laila's family in remembering her life.