Margaret Alice Toren, 81
Margaret Alice Toren, 81, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 28, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. She was born June 1, 1926, in Conrad, to Jacob and Margaret Louise (Gretton) Gemar.
Alice was the only daughter and youngest of four children. She joined her three older brothers, John Albert Gemar, Arthur Henry 'Billy' Gemar and Richard Earl Gemar. She was named after her mother, Margaret, and maternal grandmother, Alice.
Alice grew up on the family farm near Agawam, Mont. She was raised to be a hard worker and did much of the cooking and gardening for her family there. She attended elementary school at the Mohardt School and the Weist School near Conrad. She finished her education through the eighth grade, but was unable to attend high school because of finances.
Even though her family had a piano, Alice never had formal lessons. She taught herself enough, however, that she was able to play the organ for her church that met at the Mohardt School. As she played, she sang alto while her mom sang soprano and her dad sang tenor.
As a teenager, Alice worked in the oil field north of her home cleaning houses for various families. She also spent some time in Great Falls with her maternal grandparents.
Alice first met John Toren in December 1939, when they were the witnesses at the wedding of John's sister, Thallia and Alice's brother Albert. She and John were married four years later on Jan. 24, 1944, in Great Falls.
John went to work and bought a farm located nine miles south of Valier. They farmed there until 1966 when they retired and moved to Lakeside.
John and Alice were the parents of five children, Arthur John, Edwin Harm, Sharon Kay, Shirley Ann and Margaret Jean.
John passed away in 1992. A year later, Alice decided to move 'back home' to Conrad. She lived there until the fall of 2005, when she moved back to the Kalispell area to live with her children. She also spent some time with her daughter in Joplin before moving to the Pondera Medical Center in Conrad, in September 2007. On Jan. 19, 2008, Alice moved back to Kalispell.
Alice will always be remembered for her love of flowers, gardening and cooking.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; her husband; two grandsons; and one great-great-granddaughter.
She is survived by her two sons and three daughters, Art Toren and wife Dana of Kalispell, Ed Toren and wife Lana of Columbia Falls, Sharon Koch of Kalispell, Shirley Colbry and husband Earl of Joplin, and Marge Berland and Rick of Kalispell; also 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; with one great-great-grandchild.
Memorial services for Alice Toren will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel. There will be no visitation. Urn burial will be in C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Alice's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Alice's guest book.