Ruth Lona Lee Jackson Hoyem Evans, 85

Ruth Lona Lee Jackson Hoyem Evans passed away at 2:55 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2009, in Kalispell. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grand- and great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, friend and mentor. Lona Lee was born in a tent, Dec. 1, 1924, in Lavoye, Wyo., to Ralph and Maudie Mae (Stuart) Jackson. Ralph adored his wee Lona Lee and doted on her. His shockingly unexpected death two years later " three days after Lona Lee s sister Lexie was born, resulted in an epic, forced winter road trip to Maudie s mother s home in Butte. Lona Lee was raised in Butte with her sister Lexie by Maudie and their loving stepfather Red Hoyem. She frequently told stories of grinding poverty, hardship and also lots of fun, parties and dancing to the traveling Big Bands at Columbia Gardens, wearing beautiful dresses her mother made. Her most cherished relationships were with her five cousins " those Jackson boys and Grandma Tabor. These experiences and challenges resulted in lifelong friendships and the steel core strength to deal with anything life offered her, no matter how difficult. She frequently recounted her teenage story of driving back from Anaconda after getting an ice cream cone with her childhood friend, Leo Evans, on Dec. 7, 1941. Upon hearing that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, she said, We looked at each other and knew that our lives would never be the same. She graduated from Butte Public High School May 28, 1943. Her first job was sewing garments for Japanese people in internment camps; her second and favorite, was working at the Metals Bank. She also volunteered at the local USO and met troop trains every Sunday during the war. Leo and Lona Lee were married in Butte on Oct. 14, 1945, upon his return from military service in the Army Air Corps as a P51 Mustang fighter pilot based on Iwo Jima. They had nine children and lost one, Lona Lee, in infancy. Nothing was more important to them than their children " those Evans Kids who they successfully guided into adulthood and their own stories. Their move to Kalispell in 1956 began a 50-year legacy of contribution and service to the Flathead Valley. Lona Lee considered herself to be a simple person and never understood the overwhelmingly positive impact of her efforts in the world. She was a master gardener, filling up her friends and children s lives with flowers, creativity and imagination. She was a gifted seamstress who made many of her children s clothes, Halloween and parade costumes and embroidered works of art. Her volunteer efforts included countless years with the PTA, National Women s Federation, Cub and Boy Scouts, Jayceens, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and Hospice of the Flathead Valley. It was in Hospice that her talent for making Butte pasties created many years of successful fundraisers. At great personal cost she and Leo were the founding members of a nonprofit organization called the Flathead Lake Protection Association that continues its work to protect the quality of the water basin. This is how she earned the title, Lady of the Lake. In addition to raising eight children, Lona Lee managed their food drive-in business, Leos Lazy Lion for over 20 years, mentoring countless young women, empowering them with life skills which helped ensure their success in whatever endeavor they chose. Some were at risk since she proudly worked with the Flathead County Detention office to help give girls in trouble a chance. Many women still proudly pronounce that they were once, a Leo s Girl and always, respectfully call them, Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Lona Lee loved life and was insatiably curious about everything and everyone around her " even in her final days her caregivers loved her and she them. Her command of the English language enabled her to be a fascinating storyteller and she instilled in her children a love of learning and a respect for others. There was always room for another chair at the table, food, clothes or bed for the less fortunate. Many kids knew they were always welcome to crash and be safe at the Evans house. She was a friend and second mother to many and will be missed beyond all measure by the countless lives her love and generosity touched. Lona Lee is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, Leo B. Evans; their children, grand- and great-grandchildren, Lexie Mae Evans; Troy Evans, and his wife, Heather McLarty; Cly F. Evans, his wife Charlotte Streit, and daughters, Grace and Emma; Jill Evans, and her husband, John Owen, their children, Jennifer, Jessica and James, his wife Michele, and daughters, Emily and Ashley; Jay T. Evans; Todd D. Evans, and his wife, Kanako Matsumoto, and son, Shingo Evamoto; Katryn, and her husband, David Perry, and their children, Joshua, Ruth and Joseph; and Leo Bruce Evans Jr., and his wife, Dawn, and their son, Jay; and her precious sister, Lexie Nordquist, and cousins, Hazel, Ralph and Duane Jackson. Cremation has occurred; a celebration of the life of Lona Lee Lady of the Lake will be held on a sunny spring day on Flathead Lake. Please send memorials to Flathead Lake Protection Association at P.O. Box 679, Lakeside, MT 59929, to help continue her legacy. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Lona Lee s guest book to offer condolences and share memories.