Dolores F. Lake

Dolores Johnson Lake

Dolores Florence Johnson Lake was born in St. Ignatius, Montana on May 20, 1930 along with her twin brother David Johnson.

Dolores passed away on Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2021 at the age of 91, of natural causes.

Her parents were D.W. (Will) Johnson and Florence (O'Loughlin) Johnson.

Dolores' parents had met being a widow and widower each with 3 children from their first marriages. Their family quickly grew and grew. Dolores loved growing up on the family farm where there was such an abundance of fresh milk, eggs, cream, chickens, and garden.

After World War II Dolores' brother Frank and his wife Lillian suggested to Lillian's brother Orral Lake, a returning Army soldier, that he should ask Dolores on a date. His response, "she's just a kid!" Well, and you guessed it, he asked her out, fell in love, and married the girl the same month that she graduated from high school. Their wedding date was June 25, 1950. Orral was a logger and Dolores was a homemaker. They lived first in St. Ignatius then at the Nine Mile House in one of the little cabins, then Albertan, then Frenchtown. In much later years they moved to Missoula.

Mom loved becoming a Mom. She and our Dad raised Kathy, Dan, Allen and Ken. Mom's hobby and passion was vegetable gardening and the canning and freezing of all the produce. Flower gardening too! She not only loved her kids but all their friends too. Her favorite thing was attending all the activities and sports events of her kids, screaming "run, run!" ... or "get the rebound!" Mom loved the outdoors, swimming, picnics, car rides.
Orral passed in 1996. Her son Danny passed away 3 months ago on August 6, 2021. Her sisters Veronica and Ruth Ann passed away many years ago at young ages. Seven of Mom's brothers have passed, Donald Posivio and Billy, Frank, Phillip, David, Charles, and Max Johnson. An infant grandson, Dylan Lake, also has passed.

Mom is survived by Danny's wife, her daughter-in-law Amy Lake; her daughter Kathy Williams (Ken); her son Allen (Diane); and son Ken (Bonnie). Also, her grandchildren Travis Williams (Larissa), Kasey Williams (Kacie), Christin Williams, Brian Lake (Kim), Eric Lake (Samantha), Devin Lake (Aimee), Lana Lake, Arran Lake (Belle), Kellen Lake (Beth) and Kyler Lake (Elizabeth). Also, her great-grandchildren Kinsley, Kennedy, Kensington and Henry Williams; Madison and Hunter Lake; Axel, Kenna and Ryker Lake; and Thane and Adia Lake. Dolores' brother Emery also survives her as well as her loving sisters-in-law and an abundance of nieces and nephews.

Mom once wrote her life motto was "how do I make all things better?"

Services for Mom are Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Garden City Funeral Home. The service will be live streamed through Garden City Funeral Home's website.

We are so grateful for the wonderful care our Mom received at Beehive Homes. You folks gave Mom a beautiful home for her last years, filled with compassion.

Our Mom is now in Heaven, her true home, enjoying new life in a healthy body free of all pain, and enjoying a freedom and degree of joy that is beyond our biggest imaginations! All glory to God!