Beulah May Ziemkowski (Smart)

Beulah May (Smart) Ziemkowski, 86, of Missoula, passed away peacefully in her family home after a long illness Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016.

Beulah was born Nov. 14, 1929, in Lewistown to Ray and Violet (Swingley) Smart. She graduated from Fergus County High School and was employed by the Lewistown Employment Office.

At the age of 19, Beulah married her high school sweetheart, Paul Ziemkowski. They lived in Lewistown until 1959 when they moved to Tacoma, Washington. They settled permanently in Missoula in 1961. Beulah and Paul were married for 51 years and had nine children, 25 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Beulah was devoted to her husband and family. Beulah had a love for her Catholic faith and a special devotion to praying the Rosary. She enjoyed flowers – her favorite flowers were roses. She also enjoyed sewing and in the summer she canned fruit, and made pies, jams and jellies.

Beulah was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul Ziemkowski; her sister, Betty (Smart) Hoff; her sister-in-law, Aileen (Ziemkowski) Rau; her grandson, Kyle Ziemkowski; and son-in law, Mark Mays.

Survivors include nine children, Gordon Ziemkowski (Helen) of Mill Creek, Washington; Paula Mays of Spokane; Mark Ziemkowski (Leslie)of Chico, California; Sheila Trickel (Brian) of Spokane; Anna Davis (Doug) of Stevensville; Raymond Ziemkowski (Terri) of Canoga Park, California; Theresa Funk of Wenatchee, Washington; Carla Boyd of Spokane; and Mary Hoffman (Scott) of Missoula.

Other survivors include brothers-in-law, James Ziemkowski (Betty) of San Diego and Ed Ziemkowski (Donna) of Phoenix; 25 grandchildren, Josh, Adam, and Nathan Ziemkowski; Jennifer Suk; Nick Mays, Kim Coltrain; Kelly Mays; Zack Ziemkowski, Ross Ziemkowski; Rachelle Henderson; Shoni Kennedy; Andy Davis; Tracy Hubing; Joaquin Ortiz; Magda Ortiz; Dan Boyd, Matt Boyd, Elise Boyd; Chris Boyd; Nicole Schertenleib; Rachael Hoffman; Jessica Dahlen; Andrea Molzhon, and Michael Hoffman; and 18 great-grandchildren, Kira Ziemkowski; Vanessa and Emmett Suk; Javin, Sammie and Eli Coltrain; Collin Ziemkowski; ShaDae and Shayla Kennedy; Ava Hubing; Jordy Davis; Micah Boyd; Quintan, Cooper, and Roman Schertenleib; Jaxson and Baylen Dahlen; and Henry Molzhon. We offer a special thank you to Dennis and Darlene Shanahan to whom we will forever be indebted for their many years of friendship and care for our mother. Also, we are thankful for caregiver, Amy Berry, and Hospice of Missoula.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Garden City Funeral Home. A vigil service will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with a reception following the Mass in Reidy Hall, downstairs at St. Francis. Burial will follow the reception at Old St. Mary's Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials in Beulah's honor be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory. Please go to missoulafuneralhomes.com for additional information and to sign the guestbook.


Read Beulah Ziemkowski's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.