Erna Elizabeth (Hansen) Burns, 99

Erna Elizabeth (Hansen) Burns, 99, died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at the Brendan House in Kalispell. She was born Sept. 30, 1909, in Seattle, the daughter of George and Maren (Jensen) Hansen, immigrants from Denmark.

She moved with her mother to a homestead 50 miles north of Glasgow in April 1917, joining her father who had established a homestead there in 1915.

She grew up there with her two sisters, Dagney and Valborg, attending one-room elementary schools. She later attended and graduated from high school in Glasgow.

Erna lived with her parents until her marriage to William Russell Burns on June 14, 1932. After her marriage, she and her husband continued to live in Montana, moving to Kila in 1936 where they raised two sons, Rex and Lyle.

During that time, Erna was a housewife and part-time postmistress for the community of Kila. Her husband worked for various lumber companies in the area. They remained in Kila for 36 years. After losing both sons in accidents, one in 1952 and the other in 1954, they moved to Arkansas, living there for 14 years near her husband's birthplace.

Upon her husband's passing, she moved to Kalispell in 1986, where she has resided since. Most recently she lived at Buffalo Terrace Assisted Living, Immanuel Lutheran Home, and for the past few months at Brendan House.

Her many friends and relatives will miss her.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Erna will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, with Pastor Bob Thornton officiating. Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. today, April 24, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Burial will be after services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

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