Euna Fay Hodge, 93

Bill Hodge “ran unencumbered, to meet his much-loved and missed wife, Euna Fay Hodge, “when he met her at the gates of heaven,” early on the morning of Sept. 9, 2015.

Euna was born on Nov. 6, 1921, and died Sept. 9, 2015, at home in Columbia Falls from complication of pneumonia and other lung issues.

Euna was born in Charleston, Arkansas, and grew up happily in Oklahoma, and somehow never quite lost her Southern drawl, in spite of living in the West for the last 70 years.

She married William R. Hodge in 1939, when they were 17 and 19 (they lied and said that they were 18 and 20), and went on to spend the next 74 and a half years together as best friends.

Euna served alongside Bill as he pastored churches in California, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. They had three children, Ron, Royce and Roberta. They moved to Kalispell to be near family. She was a wonderful homemaker, supporter and friend for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gussie and Thone Garner; two brothers, Raymond and Keith Garner; a stillborn sister; her husband, Bill; one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

She is survived by her three children, Ron Hodge of John Day, Oregon, Royce and Diana Hodge of Saratoga, Wyoming, and Roberta and Jon Shandorf of Kalispell. She leaves behind eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Words can never adequately express the gratitude the family feels for the staff at Timber Creek Village in Columbia Falls, for their loving care and genuine concern for Mom while she was a resident there. There are angels among us.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.