Alice Joyce Cassutt passed away peacefully in Great Falls, Montana, on Nov. 9. She was 84.

Joyce was born April 11, 1934 in Sweetgrass, Montana, to Oswald and Thelma Bradley. The youngest of three children, she grew up on a Hereford ranch, known for its "Bradley herefords" 25 miles north of Cut Bank, Montana.

To say she was not a ranch girl, would be putting it lightly. Though she dutifully completed her farm chores and showed guests around on horseback (getting bucked off at least once), she preferred life in town even from a young age.

As a teen she attended boarding school in Columbia Falls, Montana, only being sent home once (that the family knows of) for getting into mischief with schoolmates. As the story is told, she was caught sneaking out and stealing apples from a local orchard; the punishment was two weeks back at home before she returned to school. She completed high school in Cut Bank.

Her father introduced her to Richard Cassutt, who she would later marry, in the early '60s, having known the young man for years as their hay delivery man. Delivering hay was one of many trades Richard dabbled in.

The couple married on Nov. 26, 1962 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, but because Joyce mistakenly wrote the date down wrong at some point and Dick didn't dare question her, they celebrated their anniversary on Nov. 28 for years (maybe even as many as 40 or 50) before realizing the mistake (and having a good laugh about it).

Shortly after they wed, Richard was offered an opportunity to launch a Case dealership in Fort Benton. The two opened D & J Implement in 1963, on a loan from Joyce's father. They never paid back the loan, though they often tried. Instead father-in-law Oswald received a "family discount" on all new equipment and very reasonably priced service for life.

While Richard was the salesman and mechanic, Joyce manned the books for the first few years, in addition to working at the First State Bank of Fort Benton, now the Banque Club. J.I. Case Company launched the new Case 1200 four-wheel drive tractor on June 3, 1964, a day before Joyce would give birth to her youngest child. She was not pleased to be sitting in a field in the heat a day prior to having a baby, but was ever supportive of her husband and the business.

Joyce was a homemaker from 1964 on, raising three children, Michael, Patricia and Kelly. One of the family's homes in Fort Benton was in "the parsonage," originally built as the pastor's home next to the Episcopal Church. They bought the house for the lot, re-roofed and re-sided it and then sold it before moving to newer ranch style home a few blocks away. The parsonage remains a regal home in Fort Benton to this day.

Joyce went back to work in 1975, taking a position at Benton Pharmacy, where she worked for the next 35 years. She quit her job in 2010, turning her attention to a lifelong interest: crafting. She enjoyed crocheting, cross stitch and sewing for her friends and family, especially her grandkids. In addition to crafts, every Christmas the grandchildren received a trinket box in the shape of a different animal or object. The collections grew so large Joyce forgot which boxes she'd gifted to whom and was convinced she gifted the same thing twice (though she never did - her grandkids have all the unique boxes to prove it).

Later in life she enjoyed completing the daily crossword and getting out for lunch at the Golden Age Center, since she implemented a no cooking policy, having spent years whipping up delicious meals for her family. As with her work at Benton Pharmacy, Joyce loved socializing with friends and neighbors. She will be greatly missed by her family and the community.

She lost her daughter, Patricia, in November of 2012 and her husband Richard of 53 years in March of 2016. Joyce stayed connected with her sons with nightly Skype chats, as well as frequent visits from the boys and their families. She also enjoyed the companionship of a miniature schnauzer named Mindy, whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by sons Michael (Carolynn) Cassutt, of Centennial, Colorado, and Kelly (Theresa) Cassutt, of Somerset, New Jersey; son-in-law Jim Ayers, of Fort Benton; and grandchildren Christopher (Terri) Cassutt, Melissa Cassutt and Helena Cassutt.

Services for Joyce are planned for 1:00 pm. Saturday, January 12, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Fort Benton. A reception will immediately follow, with a graveside service for family, weather permitting. Donations in her memory may be made to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, 1732 South 72nd Street West, Billings, Montana 59106 or online at YGBR.org/donate. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Benton Funeral Home. Please visit Joyce's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to leave a message of condolence for her family.