Evelyn Irene Longpre, 94

Evelyn Irene Longpre, 94, of Kalispell, passed away peacefully on Nov. 29, 2015, of natural causes.

She was born on the family homestead near Rocky Point, Wyoming, on Dec. 13, 1920, to Wilber Sr. and Ruby (Rundell) Voorhies. As a child, she loved to ride her horse Fleet on the Wyoming prairie. She graduated from Orchard High School in Orchard, Nebraska.

Evelyn was a lifelong homemaker, loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Family was the cornerstone of her life.

Evelyn was married to Joseph Edward Longpre in Billings on June 28, 1946; they were married for 59 years. She met Joe in Kalispell when he returned from World War II, a strapping guy who owned an Army truck and hauled lumber. She was a beautiful redhead and quick to notice Joe around town. Joe walked into a dance one night, caught eyes with her, and that was it. They were married soon after on a lumber hauling trip and went on their honeymoon in that Army truck.

She loved flowers and birds, and had gardens at every house they owned, and a large one at the small farm they had at the base of the mountains east of Kalispell. She loved the out of doors and wildlife, and always had everything packed on Friday ready to go on family camping trips to Glacier Park. She was fearless, as her boys recall her shooing bears away from the bathrooms in Glacier Park, and many other instances. She loved her sons and always encouraged and supported them and their families in their lives. She loved Joe and was at his side constantly as unofficial foreman on his many projects, traveling adventurer, hiker, huckleberry picker, sitting downtown, getting firewood, and just doing anything together. They traveled to all their sons’ homes many times, and made an adventure of most everything in life. Always, she loved family reunions, and the many lives and pathways brought together in celebration. When Joe passed away, she braved 10 more years of life for her family.

“She is now in God’s loving hands, reunited with the loved ones who preceded her, and would say, ‘Happy for me I want you to be, for now I am free, we will never really be apart, and we will meet again someday.’”  

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; her parents Wilber Sr. and Ruby; brothers, Everett, Wilber Jr. and Marvin; infant sister, Jessie; and an infant daughter, Sheryl.

Evelyn is survived by her brother, Alvin; sisters, Jennie Rauthe and Nelda Morgan; sons, Merrill and Judie, Daniel and Vicki, Anthony and Leslie, and Clinton; and 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, with Pastor Steve Snipstead of Faith Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be held one hour before the funeral service, starting at 10 am. Burial will follow the funeral service at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery at noon.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.