Madge V. Neville, 97
Madge V. Neville, 97, of Bigfork, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, at home. She was born on Jan. 22, 1907, in Livingston to Fred and Alice (Laffoon) Shadoan.
Madge was educated in the Montana school system. She later met and married Edwin L. "Buck" Lewis "the Montana Kid." They had a daughter, Joyce L. Meek.
After several years, Buck and Madge divorced. As time went by she met and married Dale Case. They remained married until Dale passed away in death. She later married Robert "Red" Neville whom she remained married to until he passed away in death. After the death of Robert, Madge remained a widow.
During her long lifetime, Madge had many different jobs. She worked on a ranch for many years as a cook, owned and operated a food and beverage establishment, and did secretarial work at the Air Force Base in Great Falls, and for North American Van Lines.
Though she worked hard for many years, she most enjoyed her work in the ministry as a volunteer Bible student as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She would talk to others about the wonderful hope the Bible holds for the future, the many Bible truths she had learned, and about the hope for a resurrection of lost loved ones. She continued to
work in the ministry talking to others about the Bible, as long as her health permitted. Many in the community remember Madge and her daughter, Joyce Meek, calling at their door with a Bible in their
hands.
Madge had a fondness for planting flowers, watching the birds and deer, and playing the piano. She loved being around children. In her earlier days, she especially enjoyed taking care of others for as
long as she was able. She was always concerned about other people.
She is survived by her grandson, Richard Meek, and his wife Donnie of Bigfork; three great-grandchildren, Autumn Drey and her husband Aaron of Milwaukie, Ore., Britney Meek of Bigfork, and Misty Thomas and her husband Seth of Bigfork; two stepgreat-granddaughters, Kari Zavala and her husband Roberto of Yellow Bay, and Billie Roberts and her husband Ryan of Kalispell; one great-great-grandson, Cohen Drey of Milwaukie, Ore.; five stepgreat-great-grandchildren, Serena Zavala and Tyler Zavala of Yellow Bay, and Carson, Madeline and Parker
Roberts of Kalispell; a former son-in-law, Allen R. "Bud Meek Sr., of Bigfork; and a former granddaughter-in-law, Nancy Meek, of Bigfork.
Madge was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Shadoan and Alice (Laffoon) Belton; two brothers, Henry and Richard "Dick" Shadoan; three husbands, Edwin L. "Buck" Lewis, Dale Case, and Robert
Neville; daughter, Joyce L. Meek; granddaughter, Amber L. Spence; grandson, Allen R. Meek Jr.; and great-granddaughters, Crystal Jean Spence and Lori A. Meek.
Memorial Services for Madge V. Neville will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 100 Vista Drive (off Montana 35), Bigfork. Michael S. Milan, an Elder from the Bigfork Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, will officiate.