Edna Doyle, 88

Edna Doyle, 88, of Belgrade, passed away at home on July 18, 2015. 

She was born to Charles and Lorena (McConnell) Kallner in 1926 in Malta. As a child, she moved with her family from Malta to Conrad, and later to Whitefish where the family homesteaded and she attended school.

Edna started working away from home when she was 16, first in the kitchen in the Soldiers’ Home in Columbia Falls, and later as a waitress in the railroad hotel dining room at Blackfoot.

In 1945, while working at lsaak Walton Inn in Essex, she met Charles “Chuck” Reich. They were married in 1949. To this union were born three daughters, Charlene, Carolyn and Lorena. Chuck passed away unexpectedly in 1958, leaving Edna alone with three little girls to raise. She then went to work for the Whitefish schools as a cook.

In 1968, Edna married David J. Doyle in Whitefish and to that union was born their son, David James “Jim” Doyle. They moved from Whitefish to Belgrade in 1979, purchasing and then expanding a mobile home park. Edna also had her own housecleaning business. Following a lengthy illness, David died in 1994.

At the age of 72, she finally retired and spent the rest of her days focused on home and family.

Edna is survived by her children, Charlene and Stan Webber of Kalispell, Carolyn Reich of Kalispell, Lorena Reich of Belgrade, and Jim and Judy Doyle of Belgrade, and by her “adopted” daughter, Robin Shanor Sullivan of Belgrade. She is also survived by grandchildren, Dana and Joe Snyder of Alaska, Kama and David Petty of Alaska, and Rana and Jake Henn of Oklahoma; stepgrandchildren, Allannah and Will Clark, and Sabrina and Duncan Anderson of Bozeman; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Chuck Reich and David Doyle; three brothers, Russell Quest, Ralph Quest and Jordan Kallner; and five sisters, Ann Shoudy, Merle Moore, Jean Osborne, Shirley Kallner and twin Ethel Shanor.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Belgrade Community Church.

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