Lois Birky, 95

Lois Birky, 95, passed away on Dec. 23, 2020, at Brendan House. Lois was born in Troy on Nov. 3, 1925, to Jerome and Jane (Marker) Thomas. She, her sister and three brothers grew up in Proctor mostly and graduated from Polson High School. Her father was a carpenter who helped build Camp Tuffit at Lake Mary Ronan. Every winter he and his brother would build a cabin and a boat and in the summers the children would help out with chores at the camp.

Lois met her husband “JJ” Birky in Proctor and they were married on Feb. 23, 1946. JJ worked as a skidder for several logging operations in the area and Lois kept busy caring for the home, the garden (both flowers and vegetables) and raising the couple's three daughters, Diane, Kerry and Melinda. She remembers doing a lot of canning too and baking cookies, cakes and pies all from scratch.

While she and JJ were married they attended lots of school sports events; JJ loved baseball and they never missed a game. The couple loved to dance too and they, along with a group of friends, could always find a place to dance whether it was at Dickie's Inn, the Blue Moon or the Eagles Club.

"We danced whenever we could."

Lois had always kept busy, so she found she "has trouble sitting still" for any length of time and enjoyed getting exercise and walking. Lois' favorite color was red; she loved the smell of flowers, homemade bread, and the taste of milk chocolate. The most important thing to Lois was to keep moving and to enjoy life.

Burial has taken place. A celebration of Lois’ life will be held in the spring.

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