Eunice M. Staples, 74

Eunice M. Staples passed away Nov. 18, 2012, in Bozeman.

She was born Sept. 11, 1928, in Marsing, Idaho, to Jennings and Bessie (DeZell) Swinney. When one year of age, she moved with her family to Gildford, Mont., where she was raised and schooled. She graduated from Northern Montana College in Havre in 1947, and worked for the AAA office for two and a half years.

Eunice married Jack Staples April 6, 1948, in Havre. After living in Havre, Great Falls and Helena, she and Jack farmed in the Gildford area for 30 years. They retired to Kalispell in 1984. They moved to Bozeman in 2004 to be closer to family.

Eunice enjoyed doing Hardanger embroidery and traveling with Jack. She was a devoted wife and mother, putting everyone else first.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gildford and Central Bible Church in Kalispell. She had several small church group gatherings and Bible studies in her home, as well as planned and served several dinners for the churches. She also attended Grace Bible Church in Bozeman as her health allowed.

Eunice was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, Randy; her brother, Jack Swinney; daughter-in-law, Mari Jane Staples; and two great-grandchildren, Drew and Piper Clark.

She is survived by her husband, Jack; two sisters, Emma Hansen and Esther Griffith of Gildford; five children, Jerry Staples of Sierra Leone, Africa, Dennis and Marnie Staples, Janet and Jon McMaster, and Nadine and Herb Bartle, all of Bozeman, and Loreen and Ken Reese of Portland; 12 grandchildren and their spouses; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Family graveside services will be held in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman. A memorial service will be held at Dokken Nelson Funeral Service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25, with a reception following at Grand Avenue Christian Church.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service.  www.dokkennelson.com