Roxie Mary Whitmer Karls, age 85, of Billings, died on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at St. Vincent Heathcare in Billings, Montana of natural causes.

Roxie was born on February 8, 1921 in Beach, North Dakota, the daughter of Samuel and Clara (Hulvey) Whitmer. She was the ninth of eleven children. She was an infant when the family moved to Bloomfield, Montana. It was there that she attended elementary school and graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive, Montana in 1939. She graduated from Billings Business College in 1942. Roxie married Wesley A. Karls on November 4, 1944 at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings. They lived and farmed the Karls' family farm at Molt, MT. While in Molt, Roxie was active in the Lake Basin Homemakers Club and was a Democratic Committee Woman for Stillwater County. She was an active 4-H member in her teens and as an adult also enjoyed gardening and sewing. Retiring from farming, Roxie and Wesley moved to Billings. One of the things that gave Roxie much delight was to be around children. Roxie always had a story to tell whether it was to one person or a crowd.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Wesley; a daughter, Beverly Nicholson; her parents; two sisters and seven brothers.

Surviving Roxie are her children, Raymond (Gail) of Molt, MT, Phillip (Judy) Karls of Brentwood, California; son-in-law, Tom Nicholson of Buffalo, Montana; son, Daniel Karls of Lynnwood, Washinton and daughter, Anette (Brad) Job of Billings; grandchildren, Wendy (Doug) Marshall of Toronto, Canada, Adam Nicholson of Buffalo, Montana, Simon and Samantha Karls of Lynnwood, Washington, and Zane, Dylan, and Luke Job of Billings. She is also survived by one brother, Jeff (Dixie) Whitmer of Bloomfield, Montana and numerous nieces and nephews and her very good friend, Helen Johnson of Billings.