Emily Jo Pfrimmer, 87

Emily Jo Pfrimmer died of a stroke early Saturday, April 23, 2011, “her spirit soaring like an eagle from North Valley Hospital.” She was 87.

Born Oct. 25, 1923, in Fort Benton, Emily Jo was the youngest and only girl of five children born to Oscar and Fanny Heim. The family moved and homesteaded in the Goosebill west of Fort Benton.

When Emily Jo was in grade school, her family relocated to Havre and then to Bigfork. She graduated from Bigfork High School in 1942. A year later, on April 12, 1943, Emily Jo married Jack Pfrimmer in Kalispell.

The couple initially lived in California as Jack had re-enlisted in the Navy to help the war effort. Following the war, he resumed his career with the FAA, which gave the family the opportunity to live in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana.

Emily Jo was a consummate homemaker and seamstress as she raised their four children Bob, Nancy, Becky and Oscar David. Oscar David died at age 2 in 1963.

Jack and Emily Jo retired to Whitefish in 1971. In retirement, she became a champion bowler. She also enjoyed shopping and driving her little car.

Emily Jo was active in the Women of the Moose, rising to become a senior regent of the Whitefish chapter. She and Jack were also active in the local chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

 She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Jack; brother, Fred Heim, of Happy Valley; son, Robert Pfrimmer, and his wife, Faith, of Baton Rouge, La.; daughter, Becky Pfrimmer, of Spokane; and daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Robert Travale, of Walnut Creek, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Austin Funeral Chapel in Whitefish followed by interment at Glacier Memorial Gardens. A memorial reception will follow at 4:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Whitefish.