Obituary; Alice Louise Wrightsman

Alice Louise Wrightsman 89, as good of a wife, mother, and human being as ever graced this earth, passed away on December 9th, at the Hot Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs, Montana. Born on March 2, 1925 to John and Nora (Stroup) Landis, in Shelby, Ohio, she graduated from Shelby High School in 1943.

In 1943, Alice Louise, or Weeze as she was fondly called, married Marion Wrightsman, whom she had known since childhood, just before Marion shipped overseas with the Army to take part in the invasion of Europe. While Marion was gone Alice Louise worked various jobs around Shelby. After the war Marion and Alice owned a poolroom in Shelby, Ohio. The block including the poolroom burned down in 1955, Marion went to work at the Shelby Post Office and Alice found work at one of the metal fabrication factories in Shelby. Alice did what was known as “piece-rate” work, meaning she got paid by the piece. It was dirty, dangerous, and mind-numbing work but Alice always made good bonus. She came home sore and tired, but no matter how tired Alice Louise was, she still insisted on doing all the cooking and keeping her house immaculate.

After Alice and Marion retired they moved to Arizona then to Montana, then back to Arizona, and finally back to Montana again, to be with their son, Rube. They settled in Plains, Montana where Marion died in 2011 at the age of 90. They had enjoyed 68 years of marriage together. Alice’s dementia increased severely during Marion’s final illness and she moved into the Clark Fork Valley Long Term Care Center to be with Marion in his final days. After Rube moved to Hot Springs in 2012 Alice was moved to the Hot Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center. She received excellent and loving care in both facilities.

Alice Louise was preceded in death by an older sister, Mildred, and two brothers, Russell and Carl. She is survived by her sister Naomi Arnold of Scottsdale, Arizona and a sister-in-law Gladys Stricker, of Mesa, Arizona. Marion and Alice had one son, Rube Wrightsman, who resides in Hot Springs, Montana. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces who lovingly knew her as “Aunt Weezie.”