Irene Ethel Bloomquist

Irene Ethel Bloomquist, 89, of Missoula,
passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013
at St. Patrick's Hospital, of natural causes.
She was born on May 22, 1924, in Sinclair,
Manitoba, Canada, to Julius and Holdena Mayert.
She left the farm, moving to Vancouver Island, in
the '40s, where she worked at her brother-in-law's
drug store. She moved to Victoria, BC, where she
met Rubel Bloomquist, the love of her life. They were
married on Dec. 4, 1954, and immigrated to the United
States. In 1956 they were blessed with the birth of
their only child, Karen (Bloomquist) Burmark.
Irene moved all over the western US with Rubel for
his construction jobs. She enjoyed meeting new
people and seeing new places. She worked retail at the Bon
Marche stores in Seattle and Boise. She was a great sales
person and loved to shop! She also worked retail in
Ketchikan, Alaska, before they retired to Missoula in
the early '80s. When they moved to
Montana, it became home.
Irene loved to bowl and golf. She once even
hit a hole-in-one! She received various
trophies for her bowling league play and met
many dear friends there.
She was always a "snappy" dresser! She loved
clothes and had a knack for putting together great
outfits. She sewed wonderful clothes and costumes
and for her daughter and grandkids,
Katelynn and Jason. She also did some knitting and
won many ribbons at the Western Montana Fair.
Irene was a very talented artist. She took some
painting lessons, but had a natural talent. She decorated
her home with beautiful works of art and shared her
work with family and friends. She entered her art in the
Western Montana Fair and won many ribbons and even a
trophy for her work.
Irene also did some traveling; she cruised to the Carribbean
with her sister Evelyn and her husband Malcolm.
She went back to her birth place with the Kerr family
in 2007, where she had a fantastic time visiting family.
She went to California to visit her daughter and family
every Christmas; where she spoiled them all, including
their dogs, Flash & Maggie. This past Christmas she went with them
to Disneyland where she was treated like royal by her
family and even the Disney Princesses!
Irene is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Karen and
Bradley Burmark of Benicia, CA; grandchildren, Katelynn
and Jason; many family members in Canada that she dearly
loved: sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. She was
preceded in death by her parents, sisters and brothers, as
well as her husband, Rubel.
No formal services will be held. A celebration of her life
was held on Saturday. Sunset Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Donations in her name may be made to: Cancer - Team Up Montana,
St. Patrick Hospital Foundation, 900 N. Orange, Suite 201,
Missoula, MT 59802, Phone (406) 329-5640.
www.teamupmontana.com/donate

Read Irene Bloomquist's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.