Garnet Marie Stuerke

Garnet Crusch Stuerke was born on April 15, 1949, in Williston, North Dakota. She was the first child to Cecil and Geraldine (Egosque) Crusch.

When Garnet was young, she was often teased that she was mom and dad’s tax deduction because she was born on the day their taxes were due. She grew up in the mission valley with her younger sister, Beverly. Garnet attended school in Ronan, MT and always made time for fun. She graduated, along with her many friends, in 1967. The following year she moved to Billings and attended beauty college. On her first Thanksgiving there, she rode the train home and shocked her dad with bleached blonde hair that she had tinted purple. Cecil said that he wanted his money back from the college. She was always a little wild like that, and we loved her for it.

After graduating beauty college, Garnet met Ross Ebel. They were married in 1969 and settled in Bitterroot Valley. They had two sons, Ross and Justin. Garnet’s sons were each the light of her life. In 1975 Garnet moved with Ross and Justin to Loveland, Colorado. She became a talented hair stylist that people knew by just her first name. Her mother joked that Garnet worked so hard to please people that she would put a curl at the end of their nose if they asked. She loved to stay current on all the hair trends and techniques and enjoyed traveling to hair shows; especially when they were in Las Vegas, and she could watch Elvis Presley perform. 

Garnet lived and worked in Colorado for over 40 years. After she retired, she moved back to Polson to be closer to her mom and sister. 

Garnet was a very loving person, and she always had a small dog that she would spoil rotten. She had the ability to make anyone feel like her friend and loved to be social. She was a great friend to have. 

After a lengthy illness, Garnet passed away on the morning of January 26, 2024, surrounded by the people who loved her. 

Garnet is survived by her sons, Eric Allen of Butte and Ross Ebel of Polson, Montana. As well as her sister, Beverly (James) Bailey and their children, Seth, Tye, Wade, and Autumn.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, her son, Justin, and her nephew, Jamie.

Services will be announced at a later date. 

“When she shall die, take her and cut her out in little stars, and she will make the face of Heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun” -William Shakespeare