Laura May (Thompson) Lytle, 87

Laura May (Thompson) Lytle, 87, passed away peacefully Nov. 26, 2008.

Laura was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Van Hook, N.D., the sixth child of Erick and Ida (Aaunrud) Thompson. At 2 years of age, Laura's family moved to Whitefish where she was raised and educated, graduating from Whitefish High School with the Class of 1939.

Laura lived and worked in Seattle during part of World War II, returning to Whitefish where she married her soldier sweetheart, Kenneth Lytle, on April 27, 1946. Together, Ken and Laura built their home and raised their two daughters, Charlene and Judy.

Laura enjoyed working in her gardens, canning her vegetables and making jams and jellies. She loved her flowers, especially the irises and rose bushes. Laura also enjoyed a career life, working in Whitefish at J.C. Penney and spending 20 years at First National Bank of Whitefish. She made time for family camping trips, Sunday dinners, sewing and knitting until her eyes failed her.

Her grandchildren were the joy of her life. She entertained them with her sense of humor and quick wit, and filled them with cookies and pies.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents; her four older brothers, Calvin (Bud), Ervin, Melvin and Lawrence Thompson; her sister, Irene Doyle; and her son-in-law, Phil Rygg.

She is survived by her dear husband, Ken, of Whitefish; her daughters, Char Rygg of Lakeside, and Judy Campbell and husband, Larry, of Columbia Falls; her grandchildren, (Judy's) Kevin Duff of Whitefish, Amanda Caldwell and husband, Mike, of Columbia Falls, Becky Moulton and husband, Dennis, of Choteau, Jason Campbell and his brother, Brett Campbell, of Columbia Falls; (Char's) Jeff Weyh and wife, Leslie, of Whitefish, Adam Noble and fiancee, Amy Evans, of Kalispell, Becky Rygg and her brother, John Rygg, of New York; her great-grandchildren, Azlyn Caldwell of Columbia Falls, Jessica Sena of North Dakota, and Alyse Sena of Virginia; her sister-in-law, Leona West; and her lifelong best friends, Theresa Gano of Polson and Miyeko Sakahara of California. Laura leaves behind many nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish, with a "pie social" afterward at The Springs at Whitefish, formerly known as Riverside Senior Living.

The family suggests that donations be made to the Christ Lutheran Church Building Fund or the donor's choice in memory of Laura.