Debra Ann Belgarde-Ruybal

Debi Belgarde-Ruybal, age 66, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a valiant battle with cancer.

Debi was born on March 28, 1957, to Margaret and Frank Newton in Helena, MT. After graduating from Capital High School in 1975, she went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Montana Western.

Debi leaves behind thousands of students that she taught and inspired at RMDC Head Start for over 46 years. Debi has been a mentor, idol, and advocate to many of her students and co-workers creating a positive impact on everyone she encountered. While working at RMDC Head Start, she met the love of her life, Don Ruybal in 1990. For the next 34 years, they created a beautiful marriage, sharing a family and life filled with love and laughter.

She enjoyed and took pride in raising her children, Joshua and Jonah. She leaves behind 5 grandchildren and 3 ½ great-grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally. Grammy was the foundation and the glue for her family. Any of the “Grizwalds” knew that they could go to her for anything, and she would be there with no questions asked.

Those who knew Debi could describe her as a free-spirited, adventurous woman and a beautiful soul who was the life of the party. She enjoyed her plants, gardening, playing with her dog “Okie” and soaking up the sun, unless it was “crappy out”. She always looked forward to her Friday nights and groovy tunes, and the summer lake days with the girls.

Debi will be remembered as a strong and fierce woman. No matter what she was faced with she continued to show love, warmth, and strength to all those who surrounded her. To sum it up, she was the G.O.A.T.

In the words of her famous toast, Salud!

She is survived by her husband, Don Ruybal; her son Joshua (Amber) Belgarde, her daughter Jonah (David) Wilk; her grandchildren: Kiela (Kooper) McAlmond, Sierah Belgarde, Wyatt, Morgen, and Keirah Wilk; great-grandchildren: Joshua, Linkin, Finnley and Frankie; her brothers: Dan (Tammy) Newton, Alan (Deannie) Higgins, Scott (Cathy) Higgins.  She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank Newton and Margaret Higgins, and her father-in-law, Eugene Belgarde “Gramps”.

Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family.

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