Gloria “Lee” Bersanti, age 87, of Butte, Montana

Gloria “Lee” Bersanti died peacefully in the early morning of Wednesday, October 11th, 2023. She was surrounded by family in her home where she wanted to be.

Lee was born in Butte to Tom and Gloria Davies on November 9, 1935.  She was the oldest of three girls.   She was raised in Walkerville and attended Sherman Grade School and graduated from Butte High School in 1954. She was an exceptional wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend.

She married her childhood sweetheart, Albert “Sonny” Bersanti, who she met in first grade, in the Trinity Methodist Church on March 31, 1957.   Before having her children, Lee worked as a secretary for an insurance company and for Cortese Drug Store.  She and Sonny raised five children born only 5 years apart on Walnut Street.  Many good times were had in that home with the Ogolins and other family members.   Once her kids were in school, she worked for the Butte Silver Bow Health Department in the WIC department.   Undoubtably she touched many young moms and children with her gentle guidance and generosity.  She made lasting friends with her co-workers.

She loved working with classmates on the Butte High reunion committees and maintained close friendships with her high school friends. To the last months, she looked forward to seeing her friends, her monthly “Cousin” Lunches and for years the Davies reunion family gatherings.  She was always happy to receive a visit or call from her family near and far.  She also enjoyed donating her time to the Butte Archives.

Lee was a mom and grandmother first.   She was there to support all of her kids’ activities and then those of her grandkids down to Addie’s dance recitals in the last year.    For years she kept albums of her kids and some of her grandkids’ accomplishments presented at their graduations, treasured by each of them.  In her free time, she enjoyed making mirrors from vintage jewelry that are now coveted by anyone special enough to receive one.  Lee was an excellent seamstress and homemaker.  For some it was prom gowns, for some it was costumes, for some it was quilts, for Maddie it was handmade doll clothes.  Her holiday dinners were “home” for everyone.

She loved everyday things like taking care of her beautiful home which she loved on Cedar Lake Drive.  She tended to her yard and flowers in the summer – her neighbors will remember her in a sun hat on her riding lawn mower.  Her grandkids will recall her admonitions not to track in her beautiful backyard snow in the winter!

Lee was not a person to watch TV but she tuned in every weeknight to watch Alex Trebek on Jeopardy, following the contestants and the show.  It was her time each day for a glass of wine and her show.

What Lee loved the most and what will be deeply missed was how she cherished her family. She loved hearing about everyone’s activities and took great pride in the personal accomplishments of each and every member of her family….she kept track even when you didn’t think she would remember what you were doing.   She was there for every single family member in a special way to each.  She was open armed no matter the circumstance or time.

Lee was the matriarch and grounding member of her family. She was the center of our world, loved and respected by all.  Holidays still revolved around her house, dinners and pinochle games.   She will be immensely missed and always remembered. Later in life, she frequently commented that she hoped the family would always stay close…perhaps one of her lasting wishes.

She was the proud mother to five successful children who survive her: son, Dan and Laurie Bersanti, and their children, Kira and her husband, Danny Conn (Riley and Dillon), and Ben, and his wife, Jen Bersanti; daughter, Sherry and Rob Martin, and their children, Abby Riordan and Mike Stenson (Maddie), and Casey Riordan (Adelyn); daughter, Janel and Tom Madrazo, and their children, Sydney Madrazo and Marcus Madrazo; daughter, Laurie Lee Bersanti;  and son, Bob and Kandi Bersanti, and their son, Hunter and his wife, Cara Bersanti (Greyson and Hayes). She is also survived by sister, Carole and Tom Durkin and their children, Mike and Michelle and their families; sister, Kathy and Jim Loughney and their children, Bill, Scott and Susan, and their families; sister in law and brother in law, Bev and Don Ogolin, and their son, Jamie and his wife, Christy, Ogolin, and their daughters, Tori and Alex.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Al “Sonny” Bersanti; parents, Tom and Gloria Davies; mother and father in law, Albert and Dorothy Bersanti; grandson, Justin Thompson; and special nephew, Jerry Ogolin.

A very heartfelt thank you must be extended to the special caregivers from Senior Solutions Hospice, without whose help we couldn’t have managed all of Lee’s needs at home.   Headed by her granddaughter, Abby, they spoiled her to no end…. “Love you, Jordon” she would say each day.

A visitation and viewing will be held from 1pm – 2:30pm on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the Front Street Station, 800 E. Front Street in Butte. A graveside service will follow, beginning at 3pm, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 5001 Crackerville Road, in Silver Bow County, where Lee will join her husband, Al, and her parents. Friends and family are asked to join us back at the Front Street Station for a celebration of Lee’s life at 4:00 p.m.

Memorials in honor of Lee would be welcomed by The Grace Fund Foundation (Hospice), 1554 Harrison Ave, Ste C, Butte, MT 59701, OR Butte Archives, 17 W Quartz St., Butte, MT 59701, OR to a charity of your choice.

Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Lee.

Service Schedule

Visitation

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday October 17, 2023

Front Street Station

800 E. Front Street

Butte, Montana 59701

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Graveside Service

3:00 p.m.

Tuesday October 17, 2023

Sunset Memorial Park

5001 Crackerville Road

Silver Bow County, Montana 59701

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Celebration of Her Life

4:00 p.m.

Tuesday October 17, 2023

Front Street Station

800 E. Front Street

Butte, Montana 59701

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