Connie Christine Michels

Connie Michels, age 61, of Livingston, passed away at her home, Thursday morning, January 9th, 2014 after a courageous two year battle against cancer. A memorial funeral service to celebrate Connie's life will be held at the Shane Lalani Center (at the corner of Lewis and South E Streets), Friday, January 17th, 11:00 am. A luncheon will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Connie's name to the Livingston Food Pantry, Camp Make A Dream, or Eagle Mount. Connie was born in Moses Lake, Washington to Jack and Pat (Kelly) Rost. Shortly after her birth, Jack and Pat moved back to Jack's hometown of Miles City, Montana where Connie grew up. Connie and Kirk fell in love when she was fifteen and Kirk seventeen. They broke up when Kirk went into the Navy in 1969. Their lives took separate roads for many years but their love never went away. They reconnected, and in 1994 Connie moved to Livingston. They were married in 1995 and have shared twenty years of beautiful life together. While on their separate paths, Connie married and had a daughter Jennifer (Myran) Warden. Jennifer and her husband, Don, gave us two beautiful grandchildren, Dale (12) and Ruby (8). These grandchildren were the light of Connie's life, visiting them and spending time with their family was Connie's favorite time and we did so as often as we could get away, or have them out to Montana. Connie was a very special person, a true loyal friend, generous to all in need, meticulous in her personal habits and home. She enjoyed gardening, especially her spectacular flower pots and beds. She loved her yoga room where she would center and focus on her poses and spiritual wellbeing. She and her husband, Kirk, worked hand in hand since 1996 when they started an architecture business. Connie mastered every task she took on. She managed the office with efficiency and precision until diagnosed with her illness in November of 2011. Connie loved playing golf (couples league, ladies league and tournaments were her favorites), rafting, skiing, travel (especially to tropical islands), and occasionally bowling and pool shooting with her husband. Her gift was her voice. As a teen, she lit up the stage in a rock band, singing Mamas and Papas, Jefferson Airplane, and Youngbloods to name a few. Of late, she was learning baritone ukulele to accompany her beautiful voice. Always healthy, vibrant and full of life, with her mother alive in her 80's and a 100 year old grandmother alive in California, Connie never dreamed she might be stricken by cancer. Hence, she chose not to have the routine invasive checkups done that are recommended for people over 50. Instead she waited until age 59. Had she had those procedures done as recommended she may still be alive today, so for Connie's sake follow your Doctor's recommendations, have timely checkups. She is survived by her husband, Kirk Michels, of Livingston; daughter Jennifer (Don) Warden and grandchildren Dale and Ruby of Sellersburg, Indiana; mother and step-father Pat and Frank Kloberdanz of Miles City; brother Bruce (Anne) Rost and family of Billings; sister Carolyn (Jerry) Kimball and family of Miles City; sister Cindy Rost and family of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and John (Chris) Rost and family of Billings; step-brothers Richard (Patty) Kloberdanz of Sterling, Colorado and James Kloberdanz of Thornton, Colorado; in-laws, Stephanie (Michels) and Al Quammen and family of Billings, Jerry and Kay Lynn Michels of Billings, and father-in-law, James Michels of Miles City, along with numerous nieces and nephews other relatives and friends. In Connie's eternal words, "In every thing give thanks" Arrangements are under the direction of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in Livingston.