Loretta Joanne Coverdell, 79

Loretta Joanne Coverdell, 79, was born on March 23, 1945, in Baker, the daughter of Emil and Albina Sieler.

She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Westmore, being the only one in her grade for a number of years. From her parents, grandparents, and others she learned to have a love of God, nation, family, and life on the ranch. She gained her domestic skills during these formative years. 

She graduated from Plevna High School in 1963, after which she attended Eastern Montana College for two years, transferring to Montana State University in 1965. It was here that she got her Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing. She also met her future husband, Darrel Coverdell. They were married in 1967. She worked at a convalescent home while Darrel finished graduate school. Upon his graduation he accepted a job at Dupont in Central Ohio, working as a research engineer. Shortly after arriving in Ohio, they bought a forty-acre farm where they lived for almost thirty years. In addition to their careers, Darrel and Loretta managed a small herd of beef cattle plus other farm animals and a successful garden. They had a large two-acre pond close to their yard which they maintained for fishing and swimming. In 1972 their son Evan joined the family, followed by Ryan two years later. Ryan was born extremely premature, and oxygen complications resulted in total blindness, creating special challenges for the family. 

Loretta had a variety of jobs in Ohio. She worked for a time as a home health nurse and served as health and handicapped coordinator for the Fairfield County Head Start program when Ryan attended there. Later she got a job transporting children to Columbus for special education classes. She drove as much as a hundred and fifty miles a day during Ryan's grade school education. Despite all the driving, Loretta took joy in helping take care of the family farm and also helping her children with homework. 

Loretta and Darrel were active members of the First Baptist of Circleville, Ohio. Her activities included being a pianist and church secretary. She also taught Sunday school and helped to cook Wednesday night fellowship dinners. Along with her busy life at home and in the community, she also found time to devote to handicrafts and cooking. She had fun creating designs for her handiwork and frequently had them published in various magazines. She enjoyed trying out addition new recipes on her family. Her love of cooking led her and her sister to publish their own cookbook in 1983.    

Loretta and Darrel always dreamed of someday returning to Montana. This dream was realized in 1998 when Darrel was able to secure early retirement. Loretta and Ryan relocated to the newly built family home near Bigfork while Darrel finished up work at Dupont for a few months. 

Upon retirement, the Coverdells employed an active lifestyle maintaining the garden, hiking, fishing, and being active in their church and community. Loretta's faith in Jesus continued to be an active one through service to her church and community. For almost two and a half years she played piano and taught Sunday school for Lakeside Baptist church. Then, when she, Darrel, and Ryan transferred to First Baptist of Bigfork, she continued to employ her gifts of service, playing piano and organ. She hosted a women's book club/Bible study in her home and also mentored young girls through her handicrafts.

Loretta was very physically active. She made it a point to attend her son Evan's track meets and even ran in some local races herself. When he ran in the Columbus marathon in 1989, she was there to cheer him on. 

Loretta also helped her son Ryan a great deal with his special needs. She was always there with a hug, helping with homework, reading him stories, recording special programs on the radio, and being interested in his activities. He was fortunate to be able to buy a home in Kalispell in 2007. She loved to cook and clean for him and take him to appointments.

She believed in keeping her body and marriage healthy. She and Darrel did many hikes together, sometimes with her boys and sometimes with her husband or others. Excursions included trips to Granite Park Chalet and Sperry Chalet among others.

Up to the last, she encouraged her children to "trust in the Lord." She passed from this life peacefully on Oct. 4, 2024. In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her brothers and their wives, Emil (Kathy), of Plevna; Tom (Cindy), in Shepherd; and Lanette Graham (Pat), of Terry; along with various nieces and nephews.