Shevlin - Billie Braaten, 35, died Monday, January 1, 2001 as the result of a house fire at her residence in Shevlin.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 5, at Faith Lutheran Church in Bagley with Rev. Mardy Schermerhorn and Rev. Greg Kuechler officiating. Interment was in Bagley City Cemetery. Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley was in charge of the arrangements.
Billie Jones was born on July 27, 1965 in Oklahoma City, Okla., the daughter of Bill and Brenda Jones. In July of 1974, she moved with her family to a farm near Bagley. Billie graduated from Bagley High School in 1983 and attended Bemidji Tech for a short while. She was employed at Wee Care Children's Center for many years, enjoying the time she spent with the children and staff. Currently, Billie was employed at Hansons Countryside Rest Home and cleaned for various people. She married Ross Braaten on May 5, 1996 and resided in Shevlin until the time of her death. Ross Braaten, 41, also died as a result of the house fire on January 1, 2001 at Shevlin.
She enjoyed spending time with her family. She and Ross enjoyed camping, fishing and spending time with friends.
Billie is survived by a son, Nathan Jones of Shevlin; a daughter, Sue Ellen Braaten of Shevlin; her mother and stepfather, Brenda and Kenneth Gray of Cement, Okla.; five sisters, Dianne (Allan) Horsley and Tressa (Larry) Riggs, both of Bagley, Carolyn Jones of Oklahoma City, Okla., Pat (Matt) Trego of Bemidji and Christa (Shane) Nelson of Thief River Falls; a brother, Ronald Jones of Cement, Okla.; a stepsister, Kelly Gray of Kingen, Okla.; two stepbrothers, Mark Gray and Ralph Gray, both of Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father and grandparents. A00003B2000JA10