Marsha Rae Sackett

Marsha Sackett, 82, of Seeley Lake passed away Monday, December 1, 2025 at St. Patrick Hospital. A graveside service will be held at Noon on Monday, December 8, 2025 at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery.

Marsha Rae “Mama” Sacket, daughter of Joseph and Edith Bettridge, was born February 23, 1943 in Centerville, Utah. She was originally married at 17 years old to Leroy Payne in Burley Idaho but was later divorced. Marsha would tell you the best days of her life started when she met the surly Marine she would ultimately spend the rest of her life with.

Marsha was united in marriage to James “Papa” Sackett in a no frills ceremony suited to their “cowboy” style at the Anaconda Bar in Anaconda Montana. Over their years together, she worked alongside Papa Sackett throughout their many ventures, from owning and running cafes and restaurants that specialized in serving cowboy size portions of comfort food, thrift and antique stores, repair and handyman work, to finally, during the last 20 years of Papa’s life, they dedicated themselves to serving their community as part of the emergency services family.

They moved to Seeley lake in 2005 where they both quickly became well known and valued members of the Seeley Lake Volunteer Fire Department. At the time of Papa’s passing in 2018, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone in that community who didn’t know and respect “Papa and Mama Sackett”. Together, they helped countless people, served many thousands of pancakes at the SLFD 4th of July pancake breakfast, saved lives and property, and left an indelible mark on Seeley Lake.

Marsha enjoyed Native American art, listening to old country music and dancing with Papa. She was a talented cook who enjoyed expressing her love by feeding people. She was always willing to help or give to those in need. No one was ever turned away. Above all else, she was a devoted wife who loved and respected “Papa” with a fiery passion.

Mama and Papa Sackett did not have biological children of their own. They did, however, offer the special privilege of “adopting” a couple of lucky guys as their sons. Michael Greer and Jason Rawlings were the sons they never had, with Mama holding as special a place in their hearts as any mother ever could. She was also a blessing to and blessed with a few others, the family she chose, Shelley McGraves, Diane Jones, and Althea Garland. Mama passed away peacefully, quietly, listening to old country tunes from Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and others, all the old songs she and Papa used to dance to.