Erma V. Jorgenson, 86
Erma V. Jorgenson, 86, passed away in the loving care of Hospice and the staff at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. She was born on Jan. 5, 1923, in Missoula, to Charles and Ida (Toppari) Niemi.
Erma was the oldest of three daughters who grew up in Milltown at the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers. She attended Bonner School when she could only speak Finnish. She graduated from Bonner and Missoula County High School. Erma was a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Girls' Club.
Erma worked in the office at the Missoula Mercantile, the University of Montana, and retired after 14 years from the U.S. Forest Service Research Lab.
Erma married Harry E. Peterson in 1942 and followed him to U.S. Army bases until they settled in Piltzville, Mont. Harry passed away when Erma was only 36 years old, in 1959. She later married Melvin C. Jorgenson in 1962, and they enjoyed 38 years together before he passed away in 2000.
Erma enjoyed meeting people and was proud of her ability to make friends anywhere, anytime. Her compassion, hospitality and warmth marked her life. She cared deeply for her family, her communities, her church, and the well-being of all around her. She had many friends at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bonner and Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers. She was also a member of the Sons of Norway and Sons and Daughters of Inez.
Erma lived her life with a most gracious and sweet soul. She loved Montana, from the huckleberry picking in the mountains, where she encountered a bear, to swimming in the Blackfoot River, Lake Inez, Seeley Lake and Flathead Lake.
Erma will be forever missed by her devoted companion, Albert Dufresne, of Kalispell, who had been her friend since the first grade at Bonner School; three children, Janell Miller and husband, Richard, of Stuart, Fla., Ronald Peterson and wife, Marlys, of Billings, and Douglas Peterson of Sebastopol, Calif.; two grandchildren, Brandy Peterson and Craig Peterson, of Billings; three great-grandchildren, Caiden, Colden and Cloe Jean Peterson; one sister, Mildred Hanger, and husband, Harold, of Missoula; and a brother-in-law, Kenneth Lizotte, of Piltzville.
Memorial services for Erma will be at held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, at the Buffalo Hill Terrace, 40 Claremont, Kalispell, with Pastor Kathleen Larson-Phillips officiating. Urn burial will be in Missoula.
The family suggests memorials be given to the donor's favorite church, charity or to Montana Special Olympics, Billings Chapter, P.O. Box 3507, Great Falls, MT 59403.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Erma's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Erma's guest book, offer condolences, and share memories.