Viola Eileen Slusher, 88
Viola Eileen Slusher, 88, longtime Whitefish resident, died peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, at the Heritage Place nursing facility in Kalispell. She was born Jan. 8, 1919, in Cawker City, Kan., to Roy and Lena Burger; she was the second of eight children.
Viola married Raymond Slusher on Aug. 23, 1939, in Wilson, Kan. Soon after they moved to California. After Raymond completed his service with the Army in World War II, they returned to Glen Elder, Kan., where they worked in the family bakery and restaurant. They moved to Limon, Colo., where they owned and operated a bakery until 1955.
They moved then to Montana, and owned and operated a bakery in Stevensville until 1961, when they settled in Whitefish where they owned and operated Slusher's Bakery for more than 20 years.
Viola was very devoted to her family. She especially loved the visits from them and was always interested in how the grandkids were doing. She never missed sending birthday and other special occasion cards.
She was active in the community and participated in community events. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Soroptimists International, and the Senior Center. She recently received an award from Soroptimists International for her volunteer work that helps to improve the lives of other women and makes their communities better places to live.
She enjoyed baseball and especially liked the Atlanta Braves. Her zest for life also included the outdoors. She liked to go fishing with her husband, Raymond, and her sons, spending many hours on the lakes around Whitefish.
Viola was blessed with a loving compassionate spirit that touched the lives of all who knew her. She was a descendant of the historical Boone family of Kentucky, which may explain the spirit she demonstrated so well in her life. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Her family would like to thank the special people at Heritage Place nursing home who loved and cared for Viola. They also would like to thank all her devoted church family, friends and the many health-care providers and volunteers.
She is now survived by her sister, Virginia Noble, of Palmdale, Calif.; sons, Ron Slusher and wife, Carrie, of Bigfork, Terry Slusher and wife, Barbara, of Anchor Point, Alaska; grandson, Todd Slusher and wife, Joyce, of Las Vegas; granddaughter, Shelly House and husband, Ken, of Phoenix; grandson, Matt Bohannan of Anchorage, Alaksa; great-grandchildren, Cilicia Waggoner, Logan Slusher, Grayson Slusher, Noah Slusher, all of Las Vegas, Sheree Brock, Makayla House, Tanner House, all of Phoenix; and great-great-grandson, Jeffery Young, of Las Vegas.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at the United Methodist Church in Whitefish, with the Rev. Debra Schmidt officiating.
Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.