Kay Jean (Newman) Babb

August 30, 1941 – February 22, 2023
Kay Jean (Newman) Babb was born at the Newman home in Belle Fourche, South Dakota to Roy and Maxine (Radtke) Newman, August 30, 1941. She left this earth early in the morning February 22, 2023 at the Powder River Manor, Broadus, Montana. She entered into her heavenly home on what was her youngest son, Calvin’s birthday. What a blessed birthday celebration there must have been when she was reunited with Calvin and her beloved husband, Lyle.
Kay was predominantly raised and attended school in the areas of Belle Fourche, St. Onge, and Spearfish, SD. In 1943 the family moved to California where her dad, Roy, was a police officer. They returned to Belle Fourche in 1946. She attended Spearfish High School while working part time as a cook at the Dorset Home, as well as doing bookkeeping for her Dad’s Sinclair Service Station.
She met her future husband, Lyle Wallace Babb, while on a blind date, of which she was actually on the date with another fella. As Kay used to tell, she was holding hands with Lyle while sitting next to her date. On August 28, 1959 Lyle and Kay were married in Spearfish, South Dakota. They made their first home on the Oliver Teigen Ranch at Capitol, Montana where Lyle was employed. Their first son, Kenneth Lyle, was born June 4, 1961. The young family moved west of Camp Crook, SD in the tie Creek area of Carter County, Montana, taking over the Babb family ranch due to Lyle’s father’s ill health. Their youngest son, Calvin Lee, was born February 22, 1963. Together they built their home on the ranch.
Kay raised her boys while being a ranch wife assisting Lyle on the ranch. During the summers, she and Lyle had nieces, nephews, and sometimes extra children they loved as their own. They raised sheep, cattle, and hogs. Kay would often help in the fields putting up hay or discing. Every spring, she would plant a large garden and raise chickens to butcher. Kay enthusiastically anticipated spending time in the sheep shed during lambing time and also helping to calve. She worked one summer as a laundry lady and part time cook at Sky Ranch for Boys near Camp Crook, SD. In their later years at the ranch, Lyle and Kay got into raising ostriches. They also traveled quite often and made new friends through their successful AMWAY business. They spent the winter of 1987 at Hadlock Washington near Kay’s sister, Karen and her husband Les. They also spent the winter of 1988 in Huntington Beach, California managing a trailer park.
In her younger years, Kay spent time dancing on roller skates, a favorite activity of hers. She was also a Brownie Scout leader. Kay put God and family first and foremost, enjoying church and having taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Kay’s hobbies included decorating cakes for her family. She lovingly made Kenny and Kelly’s wedding cake. She found pleasure in crocheting, quilting, making several doilies, and quilts for family members and many babies. The last quilt she made was for her great-granddaughter, Lyla JO. Kay enjoyed oil painting and was quite handy when it came to her own remodeling projects. Kay made silk flowers, arrangements, and did wedding flowers. Kay raised several litters of Blue Healer puppies out of her dog, Stormy. She also enjoyed playing games. After Lyle passed, she so appreciated Casey spending many afternoons playing Dominoes and Cribbage with her.
Some of Kay’s favorite memories included shopping with Kelsey, especially a prom dress shopping spree with uncle Monty. The time she and Kelsey spent together the summer before Kelsey left for college. Trips with Lyle and their boys to Huron, SD attending the SD State Fair and visiting her sister, Lynn and family. She enjoyed fishing, especially trips to Canada’s Reindeer Lake with family. Her last trip to the Canadian Lake included four generations: Her father Roy; she and her husband, Lyle; her sister/daughter, Sara; her sons Kenny and Calvin; and her grandson, Casey. It was a very special and memorable for her. Kay and Lyle sold the family ranch and moved to Broadus, MT in 2000 to be closer to family, son Kenny and his wife Kelly, grandson, Casey, and granddaughter, Kelsey. They passionately followed their grandchildren in various school activities be it sports or music concerts. Later, they enjoyed visiting Casey while he was attending college in Kentucky, also visiting Kay’s sister/daughter, Sara and her husband Mark in Tennessee, enjoying trips to the Grand Ole’ Opry. Kay and Lyle loved attending Kelsey’s college music concerts at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD and her concerts as an accompanist for the Energy City Voices college group in Gillette, Wyoming.
After their move to Broadus, MT kay transferred her duties as election judges from Carter County to Powder River County. She manages the clubhouse at the golf course for a few summers. She did substitute custodial work at the high school and helped Lyle clean the school gymnasium after ball games. She also did summer custodial work with Lyle. Kay then became a substitute teacher at the junior high and high school. She enjoyed the students and continued subbing until her health declined. Many students affectionately called her “Grandma Babb”. She spent one year as a full-time substitute in Kelly’s absence allowing her to be in Kentucky during Casey’s recuperation following a brain aneurysm. After Kelly and Casey returned home, Kay and Casey made many trips to Miles City for physical therapy. In August of 2022, Kay became a resident at Powder River Manor in Broadus. She remained in their care until the time of her death. Casey loyally visited her there nearly every afternoon.
Those preceding Kay to Heaven are her parents, Roy and Maxine Newman; her husband, Lyle; son, Calvin; and brother, Monty Newman.
Kay is survived by her son, Kenneth and wife Kelly of Broadus, MT; grandson, Casey Babb also of Broadus, MT: granddaughter, Kelsey (Babb) and Nathan Trotter as well as great-granddaughter, Lyla Jo of Edgemont, SD. Her sister/daughter Sara and husband Mark Clark of Lexington, TN; brother Gary Newman of Rapid City, SD; sister Lynn (Laverne) Hague of Tulare, SD; & sister Karen (Les) Richards of Hadlock, WA. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 10:30 am at Faith Bible Church in Broadus, MT. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 pm at the Fairview Cemetery in Camp Crook, SD. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be designated to Kay’s great-granddaughter, Lyla’s college fund and also the Christian Worship Hour a televised ministry.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of arrangements.