June Werner

Having completed her 93rd year, June Werner died in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at home in Missoula, in the presence of her husband and children, leaving them with grateful hearts for having shared her life and love.

June Myrtis Devine was born June 23, 1922, in Medicine Lake, Montana. The daughter of Charles Edward Devine and Isabel Emeline Lieffring Devine, June grew up in Williston, North Dakota, the eldest of four children, displaying her aptitude for hard work, her skill at developing caring relationships, and her love of reading and music.

June began studying piano in high school. After her graduation from Williston High School in 1940, she received a music scholarship to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Her father's untimely death in January 1941 interrupted her studies and her family relocated to Great Falls, where she continued her studies at the College of Great Falls. Her widowed uncle, Fred Decker, married her mother Isabel, becoming her stepfather and an important influence in her life.

In 1942, June met the man with whom she would share many wonderful years of married life. She completed her studies at Northwestern and graduated in June 1944. She then awaited the return of her fiancé, a B-17 navigator of the 2nd Bomb Group based in Italy. June and 1st Lt. Vincent Sterling Werner were married by Vince's brother, the Rev. Martin E. Werner, at St. Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls on Aug. 22, 1944.

While raising her family of seven children, June established a piano studio and taught for 50 years. As a certified music teacher, she was active in the Great Falls Music Teachers Association, was a master teacher of the Montana State Music Teachers Association, and performed adjudication and certification exams for the members of the organization. She was honored by MSMTA in 1992. Many of her students have maintained close relationships with her through the years.

June was active in her church and community, and welcomed friends and family to the cabin outside Monarch, where she cooked on the wood stove, curled up with her books on the screened porch, and preserved the wild raspberries of summer, insisting on remaining at her mountain sanctuary from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

June and Vince continued to seek adventure, traveling often to Europe, where they made lasting memories and forged lifelong friendships. 1993 found them on an inspirational journey to the Holy Land with Vince's brother, Martin, and they continued to visit friends and family here and abroad over the years. Another chapter began when she, Vince and their youngest daughter, Lisa, relocated to a new home they built south of Armington near Belt, where they lived for over 20 years. Family members Susan, Isabel and Martin also lived in the four homes Vince designed there. While in Belt, June and flutist Maggie Schuberg formed the Montana Duo, delighting many audiences with their music.

June and Vince relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, in 2000, spending six wonderful years living near daughter Joanne and participating deeply in their faith community. Their volunteer service for those in need acquainted them with a racially and culturally diverse urban community for the time.

They returned to Montana in 2006 and easily transitioned into the Missoula community, living near daughters Mary and Jeanne and continuing their commitment to service and to their personal spiritual journeys. June was a member of Blessed Trinity Catholic Community and reluctantly retired from the Sunday ministry she shared with Vince at St. Patrick Hospital.

June was an abiding and loving presence to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family and friends. Her family will miss her every day and is blessed by her example of her journey from this life.

June is survived by Vince Werner, her husband of 71 years; their children, Joanne Werner (Katharine O'Connor), Jeanne Werner, Susan Werner, Paula Butler (Brad Butler), Greg Werner (Susan), Mary Werner (Lawrence Duncan) and Lisa Werner (Joel Machler); as well as their grandchildren, Alison Davis, Doug Cure, Megan Chalamet, Zac Weiner, Joe O'Leary, John O'Leary, Eric Butler, Kate Duede, Keri Roach, Josh Werner, Brittany Werner and Sam Brown; and 22 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are June's brother, John Devine; and the children of her deceased sister, Kathleen Margaret Trick Humphress. Another sister, Joanne, died in infancy.

There will be a vigil service with the offering of prayers and sharing of remembrances at 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 2. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3. Both celebrations will take place at Blessed Trinity Catholic Community, 1475 Eaton St. Interment will take place at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, followed by a reception at Blessed Trinity Social Center.

June's family thanks her physicians, the staff at St. Patrick Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Hospice of Missoula and her faith community at Blessed Trinity for their loving care.

Memorials in June's name are suggested to Blessed Trinity Catholic Community, Hospice of Missoula or to the charity of your choice.

Please visit missoulafuneralhomes.com to offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of June.
Read June Werner's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.