Mary Sara Ronan, beloved wife, mother and sibling, was blessedly received into the Kingdom of God on Jan. 29, in the presence of her loving family and friends.

Born in Anaconda, on Jan. 3, 1946, the eighth child of William and Sara Stetzner, Mary Sara was, to say the least, impish. A bright spirit with a sparkle in her eye, she made a lifetime habit of laughing contagiously, teasing good-naturedly and loving whole-heartedly.

She grew up and attended high school in Anaconda where she made music a part of her life, gathered many friends and found her first love. In her 15th summer, on a blind date, she met her husband-to-be and they courted for eight years before marrying in 1969.

Beautiful and talented, Mary Sara earned the title of Miss Anaconda in 1964 and Miss Congeniality in the subsequent Miss Montana pageant; recording a few songs on the Lawrence Welk show along the way. She graduated from Carroll College in 1968 earning a degree in elementary education with an emphasis in music.

Mary and Bob Ronan settled down to a life together as teachers in Helena where they touched lives for over 30 years. They raised two loving, devoted children who, to this day, stand amazed and inspired by the love they shared and friends they cultivated.

Soon after starting Sara's Blue Ribbon Porkies in 2001, Mary Sara began to experience symptoms developing from her scleroderma. Life after was marked by serious health issues and one debilitating surgery after another, leaving her friendly spirit agonizingly homebound. Her vivaciousness was not diminished, however, continuing to concern herself with the welfare of others before herself.

She fought her illness with a bravery that humbles most, receiving excellent care from her devoted husband, family and friends. In the end, complications became more than she could overcome and the Lord mercifully took her home.

She is survived by her husband, Bob, their two children, Bob Jr. and Sara and their families. Brothers, Bill, Leonard, Donald and Carl, and sisters Marjorie, Dolores and Deanna. She is the legacy of a large family being an aunt at birth, with many cousins, nieces and nephews she holds dear. With more friends than her family can count, we wish to tell you all here that while every card and gift is deeply appreciated, we can not possibly acknowledge them all individually at this time. Thank you for your love. Everyone is welcome to come celebrate her life with us.

Services are to be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Helena. This includes a vigil on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. and a funeral Mass on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. followed by a reception in the social center. Services have been entrusted to Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home.

If you would like to help memorialize Mary Sara, donations in her name to the National Scleroderma Foundation would be wonderful. You can donate by calling 1-800-722-4673 or online at http://www.scleroderma.org/development/donate.shtm.