Alice June Birchfield Houle

Alice went home to be with Jesus on October 31, 2023, after a long illness. She was born to Randall and Julia Birchfield at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls on November 1, 1951. She was the second of six children born to Julia.

The family moved around a lot when she was young, so she attended many schools. The family settled in Great Falls in the early 60’s. She attended Paris Gibson Junior High School and Great Falls High School. She obtained a GED and attended some higher education programs.

She had three sons, Ronald Tessman, William Smock, and Ryan Stice. She married Gaylord (Aut) Houle in 1981. They were married 41 years at the time of her passing. She was happiest as a wife and mother and enjoyed raising her children as well as babysitting and fostering many other children. She worked at the County Hospital in the laundry before going to Benefis Healthcare cleaning O.R. rooms. She enjoyed her job but was forced to retire for health reasons.

She always had a caretaking spirit, caring for her older sister and mother when they were ill.

She enjoyed baking sugar cookies with her many nieces and nephews and spending time with family and friends. She was very creative and liked to play school and come up with games that she would painstakingly make from cardboard to play with the kids. She was also skilled at making playhouses out of refrigerator boxes for her nieces, nephews and foster kids. She was a very skilled quilt maker in her younger days. She enjoyed reading, especially her Bible and other Christian focused books. She was devoted to God and Jesus and loved to tell people about them.

She has had some of the same friends since middle school and always tried to keep in touch with them and family members who lived far away.

Alice is survived by her husband, Aut Houle; sons, Ron Tessman of Missouri, Ryan Stice of Washington state; sisters, Neta Percifield (Dennis) of Washington State, Lloyal (Tilt) Kline of Great Falls; brother, David (Darla) Ryan of Great Falls; as well as many nieces; and nephews; who have very fond memories of their time with Alice.

Alice was proceeded in death by her grandparents; father, Randall Birchfield; mother, Julia Wilson; sister, Gail Jackson; brother, Peter Birchfield; and son, William Smock.

She will be missed very much and was taken from us way too soon.