Betty Jean (Lunder) Bruski Maus of Port Orchard, formally of Wibaux, Mont., died on March 25, 2007, of natural causes at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton. She was 78.
Mrs. Maus was born on Sept. 15, 1928, in Ekalaka, Mont. to Dave and Grace (Berry) Lunder.
She graduated from Wibaux County High School (Montana) in 1944. She moved to Portland, Ore. during World War II and worked as a teletypist with the Army Transport Corps for two years. She married Jerome Bruski on Feb. 28, 1946, and settled south of Wibaux to farm and ranch, raising 10 children.
After the passing of her husband Jerome, she was elected senator for the 53rd Montana State Legislature. While in office, she married Ernest Maus of Golva, N.D, combining their family members to a total of 22. After his passing in 2001, Mrs. Maus moved to Washington state where five of her children reside in the Seattle area. She enjoyed being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
Mrs. Maus was preceded in death by her parents; her first and second husbands; her daughter Grace Bruski; her brother Don Lunder; and her eldest child Bruce Bruski.
She is survived by her children Bev (Doug) Boggs of Port Orchard, Cherie (Ken) Roshau of Dickinson, N.D., Victoria (John) Pregenzer of Puyallup, Jacqueline (Philip) Levenseller of Silverdale, Michelle (Dave) Dumpert of Silverdale, Bill Bruski of Dennison, Texas, Tom (Melissa) Bruski of Bothell, Gregory (Deb) Bruski of Williston, N.D.; her stepchildren Wayne (Alma) Gamroth of Black Hawk, S.D., Dan (Sarah) Maus of Beach, N.D., Dale (Karen) Maus of Sentinel Butte, N.D.; Don (Patsy) Maus of Golva, N.D., Doug (Sherry) Maus of Dickinson, N.D., Pam Clark of Bismark, N.D., Karen (Ron) Metcalf of Sidney, Mont., Brenda (Aaron) Morman of Wahpeton, N.D., Alane (Don) Barthel of Wright, Wyo., Tammy (Perry) Nistler of Golva, N.D.; 15 grandchildren; and numerous step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial is today at St. Philips Catholic Church in St. Philips, Mont. Arrangements by Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Wibaux.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.
