Joan (Minette) Hughes, 87
Joan (Minette) Hughes, 87, passed away Jan. 1, 2008, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Joan was born Oct. 22, 1920, in Cut Bank, the eldest child of Dr. Carl and Emma Minette of Cut Bank. Joan graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1937 and attended Seattle University, then graduated from the Columbus School of Nursing in Great Falls in 1942.
She began her nursing career at the hospital in Browning and was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant in 1942. She was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. She later worked at Boulder Manor in Boulder, Colo., and was co-owner of the Imperial Hotel in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Joan married Al F. Hughes in Cut Bank in 1945. They had 62 wonderful years together.
Joan volunteered at the Kalispell hospital for 15 years. She belonged to the First Presbyterian's Women's and Naomi circles; Stephen Ministers with First Presbyterian Church, served as a deacon and was awarded the Presbyterian Women's Honorary Life Member.
Joan was avid reader and enjoyed traveling, gardening, family, cooking, friends and having tea and cookies with her neighbors.
Joan was a loving, caring mother who supported her children and grandchildren in all endeavors of their lives. She was a devoted military wife, moving the family across the United States and France.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Carl and Emma Minette; sister, Ann "Diddy" Westermark Gulbrandsen; brother, Pat Minette; and a great-grandchild, Brady Nelson.
She is survived by her husband, Al F. Hughes, of Kalispell; children, Al and wife, Manon Hughes, of Libby, Tom Hughes of Kalispell, Joe Hughes of Superior, Kathy and husband, Brad Asher, of Twin Falls, and Minette Black and husband, Dan, of Iowa City, Iowa; brother, Tom Minette, and wife, Tina, of Kalispell; sister-in-law, Jean Minette, of Big Timber; seven grandchildren, Colleen Asher of Boise, Emily and Sarah Asher of Twin Falls, Michelle Owen of Seattle, Becky Nelson and husband, Tony, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Bryan Black of Iowa City, and Chelsea Sanderson and husband, Byron, of Libby; great-grandchildren, Wyatt Annis of Twin Falls, and Olivia Sanderson of Libby; nieces and nephews, Rita, Bob and Susan Westermark, and Lori, Tim, Tom, Lena and Dani Minette.
Visitation for Joan will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, at the First Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Glenn Burfeind officiating. Burial will be afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Brendan House or to the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
This paid obituary is being run again at the request of the family.