Sarina Venable

Sarina Dawn "Green" Venable of Miles City, Montana, being 48 years of age, took her final earthly breath in Billings, Montana on September 1, 2024. Sarina's caretaker spirit, still intact, had her wondering if everyone else was okay right down to her final chest rise. Her heart kept steady beats through two bouts of cancer from the age of 20 with thyroid cancer and most recently with an aggressive leiomyosarcoma cancer.

Sarina was born August 4th, 1976, to Jean and Jeanie Green in Malta, Montana. She was delivered by her dad in the hospital waiting area on her own terms from the start. The staff thought she was far from birthing time, but in true Sarina fashion she just burst into this world, heart and eyes wide open.

Sarina grew up on the prairie in Whitewater, Montana with Dale Lyman, Dallas Jean, Marisa Fern, and Melanie Maria for built in teammates for the "Jean Green Team". On her 3rd birthday Sarina got plastic high heels, a sparkly necklace, and earrings set. It had rained and a big puddle was outside Grandma Sally and Grandpa's yard and Sarina didn't want her clothes dirty, so off they came, but heels and jewels stayed on.

Sarina attended Whitewater Elementary School with bouncy curls in kindergarten, to Whitewater High School where she was the high school prom queen. Sarina's beauty was evident inward and outward. She had a competitive spirit from the get-go and even though she was smaller in stature, she played big, no matter what the sport. Basketball was her love, from the chicken coop rim to the penguin dome era and on to the college rims of the Miles City Pioneers and the Rocky Mountain Battling Bears. Sarina was honored by Miles City Community College, being inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2022. She was over the sunset proud of that award presented by Rocky Erickson.

Miles City became her permanent home when she married Warren Venable. They started their marriage farming at Rock Springs, Montana. Life happened quick when Ashley, Jayden, Kyler and Baby Warren bounced into her life and her playbook never, ever quit from then on. Life always was on a full court press and Sarina thrived on that. Sarina fervently loved her kids with all of her being. Time outs were taken by force as she liked to be in the game, not warming the bench. Sarina taught her kids to respect others, play fair, but play tough, plan on winning, stay in the game, and keep the faith, always.

She loved babies and having her own to take care of was simply not enough. She had a day care business for many years, but it was not just a childcare facility, it was where the kids wanted to live and not go home. There are so many pictures from the age of 2 years old where Sarina is balancing one or two kids on her hip.

Sarina never lost her love of basketball. She refereed all classes of basketball with confidence and grace right up to her rounds of cancer treatments. She knew players, coaches, parents, and fans from all over Montana and beyond. Sarina listened to the whistles of others and was always ready to pause her game to help someone, no matter what.

Sarina was a true friend as has been evident by the outpouring of support of so many to help Sarina in every way possible when tragedies struck. All of her people cooked, cleaned, renovated, chauffeured, prayed, and gave everything of themselves to fight her battles of this life beside her.

Sarina has had some big pieces of her heart go before her to be with Jesus. God lifted Sarina's heavy load of this world and reunited her with the real "Game Plan", the Lord Jesus Christ. Sarina's uniform is now one of Christ's Army, with a big bright sparkling cross. We deeply mourn the loss of our "Forever 32" teammate, but Sarina's advice to us left behind is to "Get back in the game"!!! Sarina loved fiercely and was YOUR good and faithful servant to the final buzzer, where there is eternal life and no more "Game Over", just "Game On".

We love you Sarina, Until We Meet Again!

Sarina is survived by her loving children Ashley, Jayden, Kyler, and Warren (Baby) Venable, all of Miles City; Warren Venable of Miles City, MT; her mom, Jeanie "Gigi" Green of Whitewater, MT; her Maternal Grandmother, Sally Austin of Whitewater, MT; Sisters Marisa (Zach) Wahl, of Glendive, MT, Melanie (Ty) Hinderager of Fort Shaw, MT; Brothers Dale (Tracy) Green of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Dallas (Ashley) Green of Whitewater, MT; Mother-in-law Virginia Ronning of Rock Springs, MT; Brother-in- law, Ryan and Jill Venable, Hayes and Tess Venable and Casey and Tonya Boardman. Many relatives and friends are feeling the loss of Sarina including beloved aunts and uncles, cousins, treasured nieces and nephews on both sides of the family including Oxarart, Green, Venable, and Ronning.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jean Green; Her Father-in-law, Tom Venable; Maternal Grandfather, Harry Austin Jr. and Paternal grandparents, Dale and Fern Green; and Grandparent in-laws, Warren and Liz Ronning.

A visitation was held September 6 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home Miles City. A Funeral Service was held September 7 at Miles City Community College. Interment followed in the family lot at Custer County Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sarina's name to the Sarina Venable Family Memorial Fund.