October 31, 2024, Halloween morning, Sheila Madeline Ryan died at her home in Butte, MT. Her son Robert was with her at the end. She was 81 years old.
Sheila was born October 13, 1943 in Butte, Montana to Thomas John Ryan and Marjorie Irene Ryan.
Mom was raised in Butte, attended Hawthorne Elementary school and graduated Butte High School in 1961. In May of 1962 she married Robert Seccomb, and in November welcomed the birth of her first son, Robert. Sons Carl and Shawn followed soon after. In 1984 Sheila and Robert separated, and Mom started her second career as a teacher. She graduated from Western Montana College in 1996 with a degree in Elementary Education. She soon found herself teach in a remote village in Alaska. After Alaska she taught Special Education on the reservation in Lame Deer, MT.
Mom loved travel, and would visit her sons where ever they may be living at the time, including riding on a Coast Guard icebreaker with Carl. She bought a little red pickup truck and would go camping with her friends in Lame Deer.
Mom retired from teaching in 2010 and bought a new home in Butte, where she lived until the end with her cat Silky.
Mom loved quilting, and could not pass a fabric store without buying a few fat quarters for the next project. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Thomas (T.J.) Ryan, sister Sherrie Burgess, son Carlton Seccomb, and her ex husband Robert Seccomb.
Sheila is survived by her sons, Robert Seccomb and Shawn Seccomb (Mary), grandchildren Molly Anderson (Thomas), Lita Shephard (Ashton), Selena Hollins (Nathan), Andrew Seccomb, Renee Seccomb, Ellen Seccomb, great grandchildren Kimber and Adiline Anderson, Christine Shepard and Wyonna Hollins.
It was Mom’s wish to be cremated. There will be family gathering and ceremony at a future date.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Sheila.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Sheila and her family.
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Diane Jordan says
Our thoughts and prayers are with Rob, Shawn and families.
Susie Dennehy says
Our condolences to Sheila family. Sheila was a very talented woman and was very generous with sharing her talents and skills with everyone. My sister Linda and myself are very appreciative of the time she spent teaching us how to quilt. She will be missed.
Danette Enrooth says
She was a great lady. She could do just about anything . From making dresses to cake decorating. She made lots of quilts and blankets. She also lived her plants and life. She will be misse
Annette Satterly says
I’m so sorry for your loss. I loved seeing Sheila at AnRiRa and at trainings in Lame Deer. She always had a smile on her face and will be greatly missed.
Julie Buckley says
I am so sorry about Sheila’s passing. May she rest in peace! She was a great women, and a great friend. My late husband Larry was also fond of her boys, whom he taught here in Butte, and of Sheila – she was always a ray of sunshine. My most sincere condolences! Julie Arndt Buckley
Donna (White) Campanella says
I am sorry for the loss of Sheila. She was my best friend through grade school and junior high, I spent a lot of time at her house. Since we didn’t drive we walked a lot and made our own fun. I ran into her one day in Safeway some time ago and we hugged and planned on meeting for lunch one day to catch up on everything that kept us busy in our lives. God Bless
Vera Voss Jackson says
Sheila and I were classmates at Hawthorne and thru high school. We spent alot of time together as kids. We also shared the same birthday. My condolences to her family.
She was a great gal.
.
Joanne Cortese says
God bless Sheila and all who loved her. Sheila was a student in one (or more) of my classes at Tech. I remember her being thrilled to be able to go to Western to pursue her teaching degree. I haven’t seen her since, but I remember her partly as she gave me a quilted runner which I still have and enjoy. So happy to hear of her and sending prayers for her peace in eternal lie.