Our daughter, sister, aunt and friend, Denise Lucylle Rothwell, 54, passed away on Tuesday, December 16th in her home from complications of a pulmonary embolism. A funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 2:00pm in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home. Graveside service to follow at Highland Cemetery.

Denise graduated from CM Russell High in 1979, went to Montana State University in Bozeman, MT from 1979-1981; then on to The Colorado College, in Colorado Springs, CO 1981-1983 to attain her B.S. in Political Science. She was accepted to Pepperdine University School of Law, in Malibu, CA and earned her law degree in 1986. She was admitted to the California Bar 1986 and the Montana Bar 2004.

She worked at Fairfield, McDonald, Slaughter & Strauss (currently Fairfield & Freeman; Strauss & Uritz) in Ventura, CA from 1986-1991 and Arnold, LaRochelle, Mathews and Zirbel, LLP in Oxnard, CA 1991-2003.

In June of 2003 Denise moved back to her home state of Montana when her father, John Rothwell fell ill. She worked at Bronson, Luinstra, Rothwell & Young (previously, Alexander, Baucus, Paul & Young) in Great Falls, MT from July 2003-January, 2008. It was then she opened her own office, Rothwell Law Offices, in Great Falls from January 2008 until her death.

Denise’s greatest love and passion was Great Pyrenees dog rescue. She owned her first Great Pyrenees while living in California and was hooked on the breed. She always owned at least two of these majestic ‘gentle giant’ dogs and started working with rescues. She spent many hours finding foster homes for the dogs that she could not care for herself.

She was glad to be back in Montana closer to her niece and nephews, although she always missed the lovely California weather and all of her dear friends in the Ventura, California area. After many years of urging from those friends who missed her dearly, she was actually planning to move back next year. So many years in California had made the Montana winters just too cold for Denise, although her beloved Great Pyrenees with their gorgeous thick coats did not mind our snow and winds.

Denise is survived by her; Mother, Shirley Anderson Rothwell of Great Falls; Sister, ReAnn S. Rothwell of Vaughn; brother, J. Mark (Shawna) Rothwell of Great Falls; niece, Deanna Rothwell; nephews, Garrison and Derek Rothwell both of Great Falls.

She is preceded in death by; her father, John A. Rothwell in 2003; niece, Kelsey Rothwell in 1998; grandparents, Jack and Inez Rothwell; as well as Elmer and Mazie Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Great Pyrenees Rescue would be appreciated.

{Columbia Cascade Great Pyrenees Club, c/o Kathy Liles, 46302 NE 296 Ave, Amboy, WA, 98601

http://nwgreatpyrenees.com/rescueinfo.htm}

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