Lilly Joy Freebury, 82

Lilly Joy Freebury, 82, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, with her family at her side. Lilly was born April 11, 1925, to Ed and Nellie Ness.

She was raised on the family homestead near Kila. Her early education was attending Kila Grade School, and then graduating from Flathead County High School in 1942. At the beginning of World War II, Lil moved to Washington, where she worked in the Naval shipyards during the war effort. She often laughed about writing letters to many of the soldiers from the Flathead Valley during the war. It seems she used toilet paper to write the letters on, so the boys always wanted her to write often.

She married one of the returning soldiers, Ernie Freebury, in Woodland Park in June 1948. For the next 43 years, Ernie and Lil raised two children together here in the Flathead until Ernie passed away in 1990.

Lil sold real estate in the valley for more than 40 years. In that time, she was a member of more volunteer and public-service organizations than can be listed. She had a natural talent as a leader and to get things done, and served her community well.

'Lil walked every day of her life with God in her heart and is with him now.'

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie; and a granddaughter, Laura.

She is now survived by her son, Ernie Freebury, and wife, Donna, of Kalispell; her daughter, Linda McGee, of Las Vegas; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Lindy Ness, of Miles City; and extended family.

Funeral services for Lilly Freebury will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 14, at the Church of the Nazarene on Whitefish Stage Road in Kalispell, with burial afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in the Johnson-Gloschat chapel.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Lilly's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Lilly's guest book.