Violet Saimo, 76

Violet Saimo, 76, of Missoula, passed away Nov. 30, 2010, at Village Health Care Center, due to complications from Wegner's disease. She passed away peacefully in the arms of her sister, Cleo Keenan. She was a great woman who fought to the end. She was born on May 13, 1934, in Columbia Falls, the daughter of Flossie (Blades) and Richard Brunette. She attended schools in Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Phillipsburg. She had two sons and two daughters from a previous marriage. She worked at various positions in Polson, where she met her beloved husband, Mitz Saimo. They were married in Polson on May 9, 1969. She enjoyed gardening, shopping and traveled to Hawaii three times, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Disneyland, Hearst Castle, Cannon Beach, Yellowstone and Glacier Parks, and San Diego. She also liked visiting relatives in Powell, Wyo., Cottonwood, Ariz., Seattle, Kalispell, Whitefish and Livingston. She will be greatly missed by all of her wonderful friends. Violet is survived by her husband, Mitz, of Missoula; sons, Randy Larson of Sydney, and Loyd of Missoula; daughters, Rhonda Larson Reardon and Valerie Larson, both of Missoula; sisters, Cleo Keenan and Dorothy Wigen, both of Missoula, Duskie Dwelle of Dayton, and Dixie Witt of Oregon; granddaughters, Angie Reardon of Whitefish, Lauren Larson of Helena, Rainy and Brian Naylor, Amanda and Omar Hernandez and Kera Mandala; grandsons, Shawn Reardon of Kalispell, and Leon Larson of Helena; great-granddaughter, Jordan Johnson of Whitefish; and great-grandsons, David, Joseph and Owen. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Gene and Bill; sister, Shirley; and a son-in-law, Joey Mandala. Viewing will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, at Garden City Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at Garden City Funeral Home, followed by burial at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. The family extends a special and grateful Thank you to St. Patrick Dialysis Center, Hospital and Emergency Room, Village Health Care Center, Drs. Eddy, Lakatua, Bekemeyer and Chris Smith. Memorial contributions in Violet's name are suggested to the St. Patrick Dialysis Center, 615 W. Alder, Missoula, MT 59802.