Alice Lucille Moen, 84
Alice Lucille Moen, 84, was born July 11, 1920, in Polson to Irvin and Lois Sturm. She died April 26, 2005, in her home at Kalispell. The Sturm family lived in Valley View during Alice's early years. Alice's father operated construction equipment for the large dam building projects in Montana and Washington and the family followed that job trail; living first in eastern Montana and then Washington state. Alice graduated from high school in Spokane and then attended Kinman Business College.
During World War II, she worked as an executive secretary at various military bases, first in Spokane and later at Auburn, Wash.
Alice was engaged to Harold Moen prior to his military deployment to England in 1943. The engaged couple would not see each other for two and a half years but numerous letters and telegrams kept the romance thriving. Harold's release from the Army in December 1945 again united the couple and Alice married her sweetheart on March 1, 1946. Alice's wedding day marked the beginning of what she considered her real career; a wife to Harold and later, a mother to her children.
The newlyweds lived in several Northwest cities, including Portland and
Edmonds, Wash, until 1949 when they moved to Devon, Mont. Kalispell has been home to Alice since 1950.
Alice is survived by her husband, Harold, at the family apartment; daughter, Joann Perrett and son-in-law, Dave Wilson, of Bellevue, Wash.; daughter-in-law, Wren Moen of Kalispell; granddaughter, Annette and husband, Rick Perry, of Puyallup, Wash.; and three great-grandsons, Jackson, Dylan and Luke. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy and brother-in-law, Wes Benjamin, of Auburn Wash., and sister Gladys and brother-in-law, Dick Mooney, of Wenatchee, Wash.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ruth and Harold Kolden, of Missoula; sister-in-law, Helen Moen, of Missoula; and sister-in-law, Norma Braaten, of Everett. She is also survived by 12 nephews and nieces and their families; and many, many friends.
Alice was preceded in death by her son, Irvin Moen, on March 16, 2005; her parents, Irvin and Lois Sturm; her parents-in-law, Ole and Gina Moan; and her bother-in-law, Arnold Braaten.
Alice's deep faith was a constant; she dedicated her life to serving the Lord. For many years, as an elder's wife, she ministered to the workers and the faithful by preparing countless meals, changing many beds and washing loads of clothes. Alice's house was always spotless on Saturday evenings in preparation for Sunday morning meeting.
Alice volunteered her time and secretarial expertise to youth organizations that her children were involved with; first to the Boy and Girl Scouts, then to the local Parent Teachers Association. For several years, she was secretary/treasurer for the local PTA and for two years she served on the board of the Montana State PTA.
Music was a joy to Alice. She was self-taught on both the guitar and piano and delighted in teaching guitar basics to her son and piano fundamentals to her daughter. Alice often sang as she worked, usually hymns, but also popular tunes from her youth.
Alice passed away peacefully in her home at Prestige Assisted Living; surrounded by the love of her family and her Prestige care givers.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today, April 29, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Salvation Army Community Center. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.