Elva Jessie Bronson, 74

Elva Jessie Bronson, 74, died peacefully on Nov. 29, 2014. 

Jessie was born July 27, 1940, in Kalispell, the daughter of Alva Shefferd and Genevieve Pettit-Shefferd.

In 1959 she met the love of her life, Vernon Elroy Bronson, at Norm’s News. He walked in and ordered a cup of coffee and two hamburgers to go. She forgot his coffee and he married her anyway on Oct. 1, 1960.

Jessie loved to dance. She enjoyed the outdoors and spent her time camping with her family and tending her flower gardens. She also loved to cook and left many of us with memories of her “famous” homemade pies and huge cinnamon rolls, from the days when she owned the Four Seasons Restaurant in Kalispell. It gave her great pleasure passing along to her daughters and grandchildren the family traditions in baking, sewing and card games.

She spent her later years living in the Swan Valley on Lion Creek, where she owned the Hungry Bear Restaurant with her sister and best friend Rose Gilbert. She loved entertaining friends and family there and everyone was assured that there would be music, dancing, laughter, good food and visiting. 

Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, Alva and Genevieve Shefferd; her husband, Vernon Bronson; sisters, Irene, Cora, Florence and Virginia; and a brother Vernon.

She is survived by her children, Steven Bronson, Gordon Bronson, Terri  Denzer, Jeff  Bronson, Cyndie Bronson-Pluid and Val Bronson; her sisters, Vivian, Verda Jean, Rose and Lois; and a number of brothers- and sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as her many friends whom she loved and considered her extended family.

Jessie’s true love was to play pinochle; she would play as often as she possibly could and hated missing her cards games. A special thanks to her son-in-law Jack who made sure to get to get her there.

In lieu of flowers, Jessie had requested that all donations be made to the Senior Center of Kalispell so the card games may go on!

Alva Jessie Bronson was a woman who left few words unspoken and left this earth well loved. She was a loving mother, aunt, sister, cousin, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and a truly amazing woman who will be terribly missed by all who knew her.