Saralou Vernette O’Brien entered eternal life on December 3, 2023, surrounded by family, at the age of 90. Saralou was born December 4, 1932, the last of four children to James D. and Marole (Sampson) Leaphart in Missoula, MT.
She attended schools in Missoula. After high school, she attended the University of Montana and was in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She made the decision to become a nurse and headed to Rochester, MN, graduating from the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing, a diploma program, in May 1956. She continued at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1958. Returning to Montana, she worked as a school nurse in Billings, MT, before starting her career as a Public Health Nurse for the Indian Health Service (IHS) on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in 1960.
On May 12, 1962, she was united in marriage to Raymond R. O’Brien, of Manhattan, MT, in Poplar, MT. They made their home in Poplar where they raised their children. She retired from the IHS in 1988 but continued to work as a nurse for several years in the community.
They moved to Manhattan, MT, in 2013 to live with their son. She enjoyed reading, knitting baby blankets for family and friends, and was active in American Legion Auxiliary and the Altar Society of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Saralou is survived by her four children, Gary O’Brien, of Fort Collins, CO; Amy (Michael) Buckanaga, of Bemidji, MN; Dan (Sheila) O’Brien, of Malta, NT; and Douglas O’Brien, of Manhattan, MT; seven grandchildren, Anthony (Elizabeth) Meisner; Derek, Trent, and Erin Buckanaga; Keegan O’Brien; Grant O’Brien and Jillian (Cordel) Salsbery; and two great-grandsons; sister-in-law, Patricia O’Brien, of Billings, MT; and numerous nieces and nephews. She also had her Manhattan family; Steve and Katie Loessberg; Adam, Amanda and Pierce Priquette; Sue Whittaker, and friends from the Manhattan Senior Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brothers, Charles D. (Don) and Clark Leaphart; and sister, Frances Haas.
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Pauline azure feuvray says
Thanks for your ihs service on the fort peck reservation and other areas. God bless the family.
Linda says
I remember Saralou and the excellent leadership she provided as the Head of the Public Health Nursing Department, especially in eradicating tuberculosis here. Rest in peace Saralou. Your service will be long remembered and honored.
Rita Harding says
I was honored to know and work with Saralou when she was Director of Public Health Nursing – she had tremendous knowledge of community needs, compassion for all patients and their families, and ongoing dedication to doing the very best job possible.