Roselee Faust

Roselee Faust, 55, of Bozeman passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2008. She was born on July 26, 1953 in St. Joseph, Missouri to Charles and Bula (Gibson) Lett. She graduated from Benton High School in 1971 and attended Missouri Western State College. She met Russell Faust in 1976 in Seattle, where the two spent the next three years skydiving together. They were married on February 2, 1979 in Seattle. Rosie and Russ moved to Bozeman in the spring of 1979, where she worked at the phone company for nearly ten years. In August of 1991, Rosie went to work at Gallatin Gateway School, where she began as a secretary and was eventually an instructional aid until May of 1998. She loved kids very much, and she babysat many kids around the Four Corners area while raising her two beautiful children, Kate and Josh. Rosie had a love for the mountains and nature. She was known by many as the #8220;Bird Lady#8221;, as she rehabilitated song birds that were orphaned or hurt until she could release them back into the wild. She did this for approximately ten years until she got too busy to do it anymore with the arrival of her only grandson, Kincaid, two years ago. She kept herself busy while working half days at Mail More, watching and helping raise Kincaid while Kate was working. She also loved her dogs Tango (now deceased), Cookie, and Sativa, as well as hiking and going to the park with her best friend, Jeanne Yeley. She had a heart cram-packed with love and strength, and a smile that would clear the clouds from any stormy skies. She always said, #8220;Each new day gives us the chance to love, to dream and to become more than we ever imagined.#8221; Rosie was a gentle person, and her gentleness allowed her to understand the fragility that others in nature were exposed to. She did her best to heal creatures, big and small, and to offer a voice to protect our vulnerable ecosystems, which she understood were so intertwined with our own well-being. Rosie did not seek recognition, and yet she is recognized by her family and friends as someone who spoke out in her own voice on behalf of those who could not speak out for themselves. The loss of Rosie#8217;s voice will be sorely missed. Rosie was preceded in death by her father, Charles. Survivors include her mother, Bula Rose Lett; her husband, Russ; her children, Kate (Cody) Faust and Josh Faust of Bozeman; grandson, Kincaid #8220;Bug-a-boo#8221;; siblings, Patricia (Wayman) Spangler of St. Joseph, MO, Harold (Cindy) Lett of Smithville, MO, and Vince (Christy) Lett of St. Joseph, MO; as well as nieces and nephews, Jared Spangler, Garrett McDowell, Charlie Lett, Ryan Lett and Amy Lett. Memorials in Rosie#8217;s name may be made to the Audubon Society, 225 Varick St, 7th Floor Dept. W, New York, NY 10014, or Heart of the Valley Humane Society, PO Box 11390, Bozeman, MT 59719. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:00 am, at Dahl Funeral Chapel.