Miriam Capro

Miriam (Grandma Gus) Ruth (Scoles) Capra passed away at the age of 90, at the Powder River Manor surrounded by her family on September 26, 2020. She was born on July 2, 1930 in Baker, MT to Alvy Merle (A.M) and Leona Elizabeth (Brownson) Scoles. She and her 7 siblings grew up on the family farm near Baker, MT.

Miriam attended Baker High School and boarded with her Uncle Aaron & Aunt Myrtle Brownson during those years. After graduation, she attended and graduated from Nursing School at Holy Rosary in Miles City, MT. She interned in Warm Springs, MT before returning to Baker.

During the summer of 1952, she stayed with a friend and fellow nurse, Linda Trucano at Boyes, MT. While attending a local spring dance at Hammond, Miriam met Lawrence Capra. They were married on October 18, 1952. After a honeymoon to California, they made their home at the Capra Ranch in Boyes, where she remained for the next 68 years. To this union Lawrence and Miriam raised 5 children, Michael John, Louise Marie, Rose Ann, Laurie Leona and Anthony Louis Capra.

Miriam worked hard on the ranch raising, kids, sheep, cattle and hay. She would start her day feeding her family breakfast, spend the rest of the morning either in the lambing shed, or in the fields farming. She spent many hours on a swather during the summer. She would come in and prepare lunch for the family and back outside she went to continue whatever tasks needed to be done until supper time. She continued this routine for most of her life. Miriam could cook a delicious meal for a shearing crew of 20 or more and make it look easy. For 30 years they attended the Montana Wool Growers Convention and Montana Ram Sale. In preparation for the sale you would find her working hard feeding, trimming and blocking rams getting them ready to sell.

Over the years her nurse training wasn't wasted, she was the neighborhood nurse. She tended illness and injuries to not only her family, but the neighbors as well. She would help with emergencies, administering allergy shots as well as cuts and bruises. While she may not have used sutures, she was quite skilled with butterfly bandages, tape and splints. Miriam was a nurse at heart and was always happy to be unselfishly caring for others. Miriam never let her nursing license lapse. In the summer of 1988 she dusted it off, took refresher classes in Miles City and donned her nursing uniform to work in the Powder River Manor. She worked caring for the residents of the Manor from September 1988 to July 1997 to help out when the ranch was suffering from the economic downturn.

She was active with 4-H and was able to take club members to Alberta Canada. In 1984, Rose Ann took her on a once in a lifetime trip to Los Angeles, for the Summer Olympic Games. Miriam was also a member of the Boyes Community Club.

She dedicated herself to the unconditional loving care of Anthony for the first 16 years of his life until he moved to the Black Hills Workshop in Rapid City, SD. She also traveled to Minneapolis for medical visits with Anthony, to see Specialists for his epilepsy. She was especially proud of the art work that Anthony did at the Black Hills Workshop. She was able to travel around South Dakota for some of his art shows.

Miriam was a very talented artist. She did not share her artwork, she did it for her own enjoyment. She did pass on that talent to her children and grandchildren! She enjoyed reading and her hands were hardly ever idle as she also loved to crochet.

Miriam had her first heart attack in the fall of 2009. She proved to all of us what a fierce warrior she was every time she faced a health crisis over the next 10 years. In 2019 her health started declining and she needed more care, she moved into the loving care of Judy's Place, in Belle Fourche, SD until she had a stroke that she was not able to overcome.

Miriam is survived by her husband, Lawrence Capra of Boyes, MT, children: Mike (Connie) Capra of Boyes, MT, Louise (Wayne) Talcott of Broadus, MT, Rose Ann (Pat) Olson of Saco, MT, Laurie (Jay) Hostetter of Gillette, WY and Anthony Capra of Rapid City, SD, grandchildren & great grandchildren: John (Megan), Louis and Logan Capra; Lacy (Dan), Gracee and Karter Buckley; Lanesa (Mike Godbout) Denae and Tevin Statzer; Leslie, Angelina (Michael Hanley) and Francheska Bannan, Latrisha (BJ Playle), Leighton (Kaylin Wheeler) and Ashley Bilbrey; Zebulun Olson, Leah (Brock) Strouf; Jaymie (Tom), Jaycee, Taylen, Trayley Lambert, Crystal (Chance), Case, and Callie Huntrods, Trevor (Joanna), Cameron and Logan Hostetter, her brother Robert Scoles of Billings, MT, and numerous nieces and nephews. Miriam was preceded in death by her parents, A.M. and Leona Scoles, siblings: Dorothy, Walter, Bonita, Lloyd, David, and Florence. Grandson-in-laws: Boyd Bannan and Judd Bilbrey.

Grandma Gus was carried to her final resting place by all of her grandchildren.

Funeral services were held October 3, 2020 in the Boyes Club Hall and Interment followed in the Boyes Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Lawrence and Miriam Capra 4-H Endowment Fund, The Montana 4-H Foundation at 111 Taylor Hall/PO Box 173580 Bozeman, MT 59717.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: http://www.stevensonandsons.com.