Theo Prouty

Long time Bismarck resident and retired elementary teacher, Theo Prouty, 96, died Friday, April 4, 2008, at the Baptist Home in Bismarck of a stroke. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 am Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Bismarck with Rev. Allen Wagner officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Theo Mildred Anderson Prouty was born in Miles City, MT, on Valentine's Day 1912 to third generation Norwegian American parents. Her father, Albert Anderson, worked as a conductor on the Northern Pacific Railroad until he purchased a grocery store in Miles City and settled there to raise his family. The NP Grocery became the center of Theo's childhood and she often told stories about living "over the store" and the colorful Fourth of July celebrations in the waning days of America's western frontier that was Miles City, MT. Theo's mother, Clara Jorgenson Anderson was a homemaker and talented artist, whose oil painting can still be seen at the Public Library and First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Theo was educated in Miles City, graduating from Custer County High School in 1930. She attended Eastern Montana Normal College in Billings where she earned a two year degree and teaching certificate. She then taught country school for several years in Angela, MT and later Polson, MT. On January 1, 1939, Theo married Paul Virgil Prouty in Miles City. In 1940, they left MT to manage Kuhlman's Tourist Court on Main Street in Bismarck now the site of Advantage Appliance and Kroll's Kitchen, which they did for over ten years. During this time, they had two children: JoAnn born in 1941 and Jerry in 1947. In 1954, Theo was hired by the Bismarck Public School District as a 2nd grade teacher. She taught at Richolt Elementary School for several years and then moved to Pioneer Elementary School when it opened, in what was then considered to be the far north side of Bismarck. In 1965, Theo completed her education when she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Mary. She retired from teaching in 1977. Her many students remember Mrs. Prouty and her kindness as a teacher and ability to make learning fun. Theo's sense of fun is also remembered by some of her close teaching colleagues in a retirement group they called the "Dingalings." In her retirement years, Theo became a world traveler. She enjoyed traveling with her son, daughter, son-in-law and grandsons on their many adventures around the world, including tours to the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the Baltic countries, including the Soviet Union, Morocco and several visits to most countries in Western Europe. There were also many happy family Christmas gathering in Hawaii and Big Sky, MT. A highlight of her travels was a trip in 1999, at the age of 87, to her ancestral home in Kristiansand, Norway. Her Norwegian Timenes cousins opened their arms to her and made a lifetime dream come true when they hosted her at the farm that her great-grandfather, Ole Jorgenson, left in 1840 to immigrate to America. Theo lived comfortably at her home in Bismarck until the last week of her life with assistance from her friends and loving caregivers, Diane and Deb Moch, Colleen McCabe and DeLoras Woodworth. She also enjoyed visits from her "granddogs" Rowdy and Bongo. Theo knew that she had been blessed with an extraordinarily long life filled with rich experiences, great friends, wonderful memories, good health and the support of loving family and friends. Because of her witty sense of humor and her fun sense of adventure, Theo formed special bonds with her children and grandsons. Her grandsons, in particular, got a kick out of their spirited "Granny T." Theo is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, JoAnn and David Ramsaur, Lake Oswego, OR; her son, Jerry, Bismarck, ND; nephew, Robert Anderson, Thousand Oaks, CA; three grandsons, Kevin Merritt Ramsaur, Newport Beach, CA, Erik Ramsaur and Michael Ramsaur, Portland, OR; a beloved great-granddaughter, Aynsley Ramsaur, Newport Beach, CA; as well a cousin, Sander Anderson, White Bear Lake, MN and her special second cousins, Arne and Theodor Timenes and families, Kristiansand, Norway. Theo was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil; her parents and three brothers, Kenneth, Donald and Howard. Theo was a long time member of First Lutheran Church in Bismarck. The family prefers any memorials to be directed to First Lutheran in her name. Theo was found of Oliver Wendell Holmes poem The Last Leaf and she particularly liked to recite the final stanza. With her passing at age 96 it resonates more than ever:And if I should live to beThe last leaf upon the treeIn the springLet them smile, as I do now,At the old forsaken boughWhere I cling.

Theo Prouty

February 14, 1912 - April 4, 2008