Christine Armstrong

MISSOULA - Christine Armstrong died peacefully at home on Tuesday, December. 30, 2008. Born Christine Margaret Kleffner on a ranch outside of Belt in December 1920, her life was defined by her great love of family and friends, humor that persisted long after her body was ravaged by Parkinson’s disease, and a deep and sustaining faith.





Christine’s early years coincided with the Great Depression, although later she would comment that her large family didn’t realize they were impoverished “because everyone else was poor too.” The Depression left her with an unshakable belief in self-reliance and an abhorrence of waste. Throughout her life she cooked, canned, mended, saved and recycled. She was a superb seamstress who as a teenager won a 4-H “Make it with Wool” contest and was awarded a trip to Chicago. Later she made clothing for her children and sewed the dresses for her daughters’ weddings.





During childhood, she met her future husband, John Armstrong, and after marriage and time in Texas and Illinois they settled in Missoula where he practiced medicine while she raised their five children. She was active in many causes and organizations, including Scouting, 4-H, PTA and the Catholic Church. Their large home on Keith Avenue was typically filled with neighborhood children as well as their own. Asked why she was so generous in opening her doors she said, “When they’re here, I know where they are.”





Chris’ love of life was legendary. Even in later years, when asked if she was tired, she would shake her head and respond, “I don’t want to miss anything!” And she seldom did. She loved the outdoors, which she enjoyed with family and a circle of friends who christened themselves the “Hippie Mothers,” not as a reference to the Love Generation but as a joke about their dimensions. During those years, she organized many ski adventures and hiking trips, especially to Glacier Park, which she considered magical.





In the 1960s, the family purchased property in the Rock Creek drainage where, well into her seventh decade, she could be found shooting down the river on an inner tube, surrounded by grandchildren. She had a rare ability to find fun and the long list of things that gave her joy included travel, dancing, poker, berry picking, contests, water aerobics, practical jokes of all kinds, and good food. Her own cooking skills were legendary, especially her ability to turn nearly anything into a memorable meal.





After retirement, Chris and John discovered the Sonoran Desert south of Tucson where they made a winter home. There they found many new friends and lured older ones to join them. It was also there that John passed away in 1999 after 56 years of marriage. His death was followed by her own slow decline from Parkinson’s disease. Long after her body was gone her spirit remained, evidenced by humor and a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She was tended at home by loyal caregivers whom she adopted as family.





Christine is survived by daughters Judy Murphy (John), Nancy Deschamps (Charles); sons Jim (Liahna) Armstrong, Michael Armstrong, Patrick (Kathy) Armstrong; grandchildren Annette, Kevin, Sam, David, Matthew, Christina, Mariah and Sarah, and by eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Paul Kleffner of Helena and Phil Kleffner of Belt.





Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Christ the King Catholic Church on Saturday, January. 3, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, it is asked that donations be made to any charity benefiting children.






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