Cover photo for Sue L. Ballas's Obituary
Sue L. Ballas Profile Photo
1942 Sue 2022

Sue L. Ballas

October 31, 1942 — March 27, 2022

Sue Lorraine (Burns) Ballas of Missoula, MT went to heaven on March 27,2022.

She was born in Vancouver, WA on 10/31/1942 to Clair LaMont and Letha Burns. She was the second child out of thirteen. Her father, who worked with plaster, concrete and masonry traveled a lot working on projects such as the Libby, Hungry Horse and Hoover dams.

Sue graduated from Stevensville, MT and soon moved to Missoula where she would meet her future husband John “Jack” S. Ballas.

She was tough on the exterior and soft and compassionate in the interior. Her toughness was surviving one housefire growing up, long extended stays in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on pack trips, and fighting for justice for those she cared about.

Her soft and compassionate side was taking care of her oldest daughter thru a long extended illness, and not being able to say “No” to one in need. She was always known to give a stranger or family member either gas money or food in their hour of need and a place to rest.

Combining both her toughness and compassionate sides of her heart, she was the instrumental person who went door-to-door in East Missoula to get the roads paved as she was tired of the pot holes and the immense amount of dust in the air.

She raised 5 children, as a stay at home mom…then transitioned into part-time cook, then to full-time cook. You would have seen her behind the grill in restaurants such as the Elks Club, Forest Lounge, 4B’s then tired of being behind the grill she tried something different and worked retail at Western Outfitters and then KI-YO in Ronan.

Sue was preceeded in death by her first born daughter Retta LaMay Ballas who passed away in 1980, her father Clair in 1996, her mother Letha in 2011 and a younger brother Monty in 1973 and a younger sister Michele Burns in 2002.

She is survived by her best friend of 59 years John “Jack” Ballas, her daughter Rayna (Frank) Stanley of Frenchtown, her sons Regg and Randy (Incarnacion) of Missoula and Ryan (Jamie) of Lolo and numerous brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned for June 7, 2022 at River of Life Church, 4007 Montana 200, East Missoula, at 2:00 pm.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sue L. Ballas, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Service

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Starts at 2:00 pm (Mountain time)

River of Life Ministries

4007 MT-200, Missoula, MT 59802

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