Florence A. Ladiges Dunwell (Dishno)

Florence Dunwell, 103, of Missoula, passed away in her home Friday evening, Jan. 9, 2015, with her loving daughters by her side. She died a peaceful, natural death.

She was born in the family home in Dillon in 1911 to Fred and Mary Dishno. She was raised on the family ranch in the Big Hole Valley. She started grade school in Anaconda. She moved with her family to Missoula at age of 12. She graduated from Missoula County High School in 1931.

In 1936, she married Raymond Ladiges of Alberton. They lived in Missoula, where their two daughters were born, then moved to Galveston, Texas, where Raymond worked for the Army Corps of Engineers. She returned to Missoula via train with her two small children when he entered World War II. There she lived with family until he returned from the war. They returned to Galveston until being transferred to Walla Walla, Washington, by the Corps in 1949. She, too, was employed by the Corps in Walla Walla, from which she retired in 1964. She became widowed in 1966. She married Leo Dunwell of Missoula in 1975. They moved to Missoula, where she remained until her death.

She was active in St. Anthony Catholic Church and was a member of the Daughters of Isabella for almost 74 years.

She took great joy in her family which included 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and 11 nieces and nephews. She loved flowers, birds, seeing deer in her yard and watching the sun come over the mountain. She was an avid reader, took great interest in local, national and world affairs, and worked the daily crossword puzzle. She managed her financial affairs until weeks before her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Philip and Tom Dishno; sister, Doris Dishno; husbands; and granddaughter, Catherine O'Connell.

Survivors include her daughters, Carol Parks of Missoula and Betty Wallace of Arlee; grandchildren, Mark and Randy Herring, and Shannon and John O'Connell; great-grandchildren, Alexandra O'Connell, Nasri and Shawn Herring, Charles and Delaney Koppang-O'Connell and Shelby Dunwell; nephews, Ron, Duane and Ken Dishno and Raymond, Bill and Blaine Bennett; nieces, Doris Germano, Judy Hester and Kathy Thompson; stepsons, Jim and Bob Dunwell and their children Ken, Mike and Steven Dunwell, Cindy Crawford, Scott McClay and Sheri Herderholz.

A funeral Mass will be Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Missoula followed by a luncheon in the Parish Hall. Burial will take place Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Missoula or a charity of choice. Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home.
Read Florence Dunwell's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.