Natalie A. 'Cookie' Kienas Joy, 87

Natalie A. "Cookie" Kienas Joy, 87, passed away on March 5, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell. Natalie was born on Sept. 3, 1917, in Kalispell to Herman and Amalie Shirmer Kienas.

She grew up on a dairy farm west of Kalispell. At the age of 16, she went to work at a logging camp in Eureka as a cook and babysitter. Her summers were spent on the farm. At 18, she went to work as a maid for Kerr, who was president of Leigh Valley Railroad. She continued to work as a maid in New York, Seattle, Wyoming and Sacramento, Calif.

On July 23, 1945, Natalie married Harry Joy Jr., in Somers. They made their home there where she was a wonderful mother and housewife. She worked hard her whole life.

Natalie's family meant everything to her, and she took great pride and joy in her grandchildren. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and gave great pleasure to everyone that knew her. She had a quiet wisdom and a steady comfort. "We will miss her laugh and her stories."

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Joy Jr., in 1986; her parents; one sister, Elsie; and four brothers, Arnold, Albert, Alfred and Edmund Kienas.

She is survived by a son, Stan, and his wife, Debby Joy, of Havre; her niece whom she raised as a daughter, Ramona, and her husband, George Mahoney, of Polson; grandchildren, Ryan Joy of Havre, Erin Joy of Pocatello, Idaho, Michael Mahoney of Daytona. Beach, Fla., Christopher Mahoney of Polson, and Caitlin Mahoney of Polson; a sister-in-law, Janice Kienas, of Kalispell; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Urn burial will be at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kalispell.

The family requests memorials be given to the charity of the donor's choice.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.