Irene deLongpre' Loveday, 87

Irene deLongpre' Loveday, 87, passed away Oct. 20, 2004, in Chino Hills, Calif.

Irene was born in Frenchtown on Sept. 8, 1917, the third daughter of Ed and Theresa deLongpre'. The family moved to Kalispell in 1920. She graduated from Flathead County High School with high honors in 1935.

After graduation she worked as a stenographer at the Elementary West Side School and the Kalispell Public Library.

Irene met the love of her life, George Loveday, and they were married in 1938 in Kalispell. George's home was Newark, N.J. He had hopped a freight to Montana to join the Civilian Conservation Corps. The couple later moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, where George worked for the Forest Service. He joined the Seebees in World War II.

Irene came home to live and was hired by the Kalispell Post Office. She was the first post lady, delivering mail during the war years.

After the war they moved to Castro Valley, Calif. Irene worked as a dispatcher for the state highway department in the Bay area.

Irene enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, and caring for, with much love, her beautiful rose garden. It was a special time spending a weekend in San Francisco with her loving family, enjoying Fisherman's Wharf, Candlestick Park, baseball and fine dining.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Loveday; her parents; four sisters, Dorothy Rose, Amber Mero, Elva Walters and Frances Shepherd.

She is survived by her daughter, Georgia Loveday Kirby, and husband Franf, of Chino Hills; her son, George Jr. and wife, Janice, and two grandsons of northern California; brother, Joseph, and wife, Evelyn; and sister, Almeda King, and husband, Jack, of Kalispell.

She was buried beside her husband, George, at San Bruno National Cemetery, San Francisco.