Virginia C. McCaffree, 83

Virginia C. McCaffree, 83, passed away Saturday, April 22, 2006, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Virginia was born Virginia Christina Mary Hansen on Oct. 1, 1922, in Winnett, to Martha and Emil Hansen. She was the oldest of five children.

She was raised in Musselshell as her family moved there in 1927 so the girls could attend school. She graduated from high school there and attended college in Dillon for a year with her sister Marge.

On Sept. 7, 1943, she married Roy W. "Bill" McCaffree in Roundup. Bill and Virginia moved to Fort Riley, Kan., where Bill was stationed with the Army Cavalry. After Bill's discharge in 1945, they returned to Musselshell where they ranched and raised six children for 33 years. Virginia loved the ranch life and always said, "It was a good place to raise kids." She nurtured more calves and lambs in her home as a ranch wife than you can imagine and even raised a three-legged whitetail fawn. She especially enjoyed her chickens, and during one spring had two dogs, each with a litter of pups for a total of 17 dogs on the ranch.

Virginia's children were her pride and joy. She always told people she had two families: two girls and a boy who turned out so good they wanted more, so six years later she had another two girls and a boy. With a total of six children to keep track of, she always was reminding the kids to wear your hat, watch out for snakes, stay off the barn, don't rope the chickens, listen to your Dad and get out of the water tank.

In 1985, Bill and Virginia moved to Townsend, where they lived for 20 years. Then, in August 2004, they moved to Columbia Falls, where Virginia enjoyed living closer to three of her children and grandchildren.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, sister Freida Butt, and brother Johnny Hansen.

She is survived by her husband, Bill, of Columbia Falls; sons, Ernie McCaffree and his wife, Wendy, of Columbia Falls, and Marlin McCaffree and wife, Sue, of Shepherd; daughters, Mona Parker and husband, Darwin, of Hot Springs, Karen Smith and husband, Bob, of Eureka, Dianna Ammerman of Anchorage, Alaska, and Virginia "Lee" Smith and husband, Billy, of Humble, Texas. Grandchildren include Zane and Shane McCaffree, Olivia and Kelly Parker, Jim Boyd and Kari Peak, Steve and Stacy Ammerman, Justin and Quentin McCaffree, and Billy Smith. Virginia has two surviving sisters, Marge Lutey of Salem, Ore., and Viola Deputy of Polson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, April 25, at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

Burial will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, followed by a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls.

Memorials may be made to Woodlawn Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 2962, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.