Joanne Maxine Daffern, 74

Joanne Maxine Daffern, 74, passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center from congestive heart failure and related complications.

Joanne was born Sept. 14, 1932, in Lamar, Colo., to Merle C. Thompson and wife Nida Maxine (Harp) Thompson.

She is survived by younger siblings, June Broughton of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Woody Thompson of Hyannis, Neb.

She is the mother of nine children, and grandmother and great-grandmother of many. She also is survived by immediate and extended family and friends in other parts of Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oregon and Montana.

In addition to raising a large family, Joanne worked for a time at Western Electric in Denver, Safeway stores in Fort Collins, Colo., and held a Realtor's license at D.C. Miller, before moving to Missoula in 1978, then on to Kalispell in 1979.

Her great loves in life were family and friends nearby, cooking the best meals in the world, gardening and watching the deer, wild turkey and rabbits in the yard.

Joanne will be missed and remembered forever by all she touched in life.

A memorial wake is planned for Saturday, March 17 (St. Patrick's Day), for family and friends to pay their respects. Contact Dwight Daffern and John Peterson of Kalispell.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.