BELLAMY, MaryGertrude, 92, passed away March 2, 2009 in Carmichael, CA. She is survived by her children: Helen and John Volk of Carmichael, CA; Jim and Sandy Coffman of Tulsa, OK; Caren and Bill Bradshaw of Austin, TX; Curt and Karen Coffman of Sand Springs, OK and 14 grandchildren and their families. Recently Mary told a granddaughter that her greatest accomplishment in life was raising four happy, college educated, successful children. MaryGertrude was born in a sod house in Hardingrove, SD on April 4, 1916. In 1919 her parents (Lucy and Paul Bellamy) moved the family to Rapid City. Growing up in the Black Hills, she spent her youth helping her father lead tours of the Hills with the Black Hills Transportation Company. She rode on horseback with Sally Norbeck (daughter of Senator Norbeck) in the first Buffalo Roundup. She accompanied President Coolidge on horseback as a 12 year old for the initial dedication of Mount Rushmore. She learned to fly a twin engine propeller airplane at 14 (an activity that was quickly curtailed by her parents when they learned of her exploits). She drove her sister from Rapid to Asheville, NC at 12. MaryGertrude graduated from Cornell College in Iowa with a degree in economics and business. Here, she met Eldon Coffman. They were married in the garden of her parents home. They had four children and made their home in Rapid. She and the children followed Eldon to Albuquerque, NM in 1950. They were divorced a couple of years thereafter. Mary went about the business of raising four children on her own. In 1955, Marys father and sister (Florence Young) were very ill. Mary was asked to return to Rapid to help run the family businesses and to assist her mother in caring for Marys sister and father. After they passed away, MaryGertrude moved her family into her mothers home to care for Lucy. MaryGertrude taught school for 20 years in New Mexico, South Dakota, and Hawaii. In Rapid she taught second grade specializing in reading. When asked to teach English in high school (to students needing help with reading skills), she willing took the challenge bringing the same inspiration, ingenuity, toughness, and love to her students as she did to the family she raised. After all her children graduated from high school, Mary rewarded herself by moving to Honolulu where she lived for six years. She then moved to Houston, TX. Ultimately, she moved in with Carens family living in Austin and Fort Wayne, IN. While in Fort Wayne her granddaughter wrote of her Grammy: She was always thinking of others (never herself), caring, and giving. MaryGertrude came back home to her beloved Black Hills moving into Westhills Village in Rapid City in 1993. She traveled, played golf and bridge, and drove friends through the Hills. In January 2008, Mary moved into Helens home. Six loving caregivers assisted with her care. MaryGertrude passed away peacefully in her sleep at home. In June, Curt (and several grandchildren) will drive from Denver into the Black Hills with Marys ashes. Curt took his mother to the Black Hills when she moved into Westhills. He will drive her home. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM, Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Doug Diehl officiating. The burial of Marys ashes will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in the Paul and Lucy Bellamy family plot under the direction of Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. June 14 the Bellamy family (including the families of the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of both MaryGertrude Bellamy and Florence Young) will hike to the top of Harney Peak in recognition of Marys love for the Black Hills. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions (in Marys memory) be sent to the First United Methodist Church; or to the Westhills Foundation at Westhills Village; or to PEO International, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 (Please note on any PEO check that it is for Cottey College in memory of MaryGertrude Bellamy).