Mable May Henning, 97

Our loving and vivacious mom, Mable May Munson Linder Henning, formerly of Bigfork, “went to join the angels” on March 28, 2017, at the Sunshine House in Cali Mesa, California.

She was born to Olaf and Anna Munson on May 30, 1919, in Hamil, South Dakota.

She married Eric Linder on June 6, 1942, in California. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by her children Carolyn (Jim) Holbrook, Faye (Clint) Pietsch and Janie (Dennis) Haughn, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After Eric passed away and after a stellar 17-year career at Disneyland, she became re-acquainted with an old friend from Anaheim, California, Richard W. “Dick” Henning of Bigfork. His first wife, Ree, preceded him in death. Mable and Dick married on Feb. 14,1992, at Zion Lutheran Church in Anaheim. Joining them as attendants were the daughters of Mable and the daughters of Dick, Gay (Dave) Cochrane, Susan (Peter) Mangels and June (Jerry, deceased) Jorgenson, all of Polson. She is also survived by her “new” family, whom she lovingly claimed as her own, just as we claimed her as our mom and grandmother — Gay’s children are Brian Sawyer of San Francisco, Richard (Elizabeth) Sawyer of Polson, and their children Lucian, Truman and Roman; Susan’s children Christopher Curtner of Alvin, Texas, and his child Jordan, Amy (Mike) Lucas and their children John and Austin, of Shore Acres, Texas; June’s children Jeff (deceased) and Theresa Robocker of Bridgewater, South Dakota, and their children, Sophia, Samuel, Katie, Charlie, Harrison and Emma; Jana (Dick) Carlson of Shelton, Washington, and great-grandchildren Finn and Emma.

After Dick sold his cherry orchard and property on the east shore of Flathead Lake, they moved to Kalispell and resided at Buffalo Hill retirement center. Mable loved and cared for Dick until his passing in 2003. She moved back to California to be near her children, who lovingly cared for her in her later years.

Mom Mable will be missed by her Montana family and many friends and neighbors, including her church family at Bethany Lutheran in Bigfork. She touched many lives in the Flathead Valley during her all too brief 15 years in Montana. She blessed us all with her grace, love and joyful smile. Thank you, Mom, for being so wonderful.

A celebration of life for our beloved mother will take place at 10 a.m. on July 20 at Loma Vista Cemetery, Fullerton, California. Condolences may be sent to June Jorgenson, P.O. Box 1113, Polson, MT 59860, or via email to junejorg@gmail.com