Gladys Iola McKiernan Milek

- Gladys was born on April 22, 1917 in Carpenter Creek, a mining town near Roundup. She died in Missoula on Monday, April 17, 2017; five days shy of her 100th birthday.

She spent her childhood years in Timberline and the Wyoming towns of Gebo and Thermopolis. Carpenter Creek, Timberline, and Gebo no longer exist.

She attended Colorado Women's College and the University of Nebraska. She interrupted her education to marry C.A. "Bud" Milek and become a rancher’s wife near Thermopolis. The smallest house she lived in was a sheep wagon where the baby slept on the table. She was a fantastic homemaker who learned to cook from Bill Peoples, one of their hired hands.

She and Bud were fabulous dancers. Besides cooking and dancing, Gladys enjoyed playing bridge and singing in the Catholic Church choir. She was a devout Catholic, saying the Rosary daily and going to mass regularly.

Gladys was a loving mother and felt her most important life accomplishment was raising five successful children – “such good kids!” She had many friends and was always receptive to having more. She was a generous soul always looking for ways to help others. She looked for the good in others and was extremely positive and supportive.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, her son, Daniel, and grandson, Bret Hester.

She is survived by her children JuleAnne (Bill) Hester of Florence, Van (Susie) of Spokane, Washington; Janice (Skip) Hegman of Missoula and Jenine (Tommy) Wilke of Caldwell, Idaho. She is also survived by six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren knew her love had no limits and they cherished her for her generosity and endless support.

The family extends a huge thank you to the Aspen House staff at Bee Hive Homes. Their compassion and love for Gladys made her stay there feel like it was a second home.

The family is grateful for the professional services of Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula and Bryant Funeral Home in Worland, Wyoming. A Catholic graveside service was held at the family cemetery in Thermopolis on April 22, her 100th birthday.

In honor of Gladys, please live according to her motto: “Always have a good sense of humor and enjoy people. Laugh!”