Lola Borgstede

MISSOULA - Lola Borgstede died Tuesday, January. 20, 2009. She was with her loving daughter, Shelley.





She was born in Helena on October. 5, 1918. Her father worked for the railroad as a wire operator and thus they moved frequently around Montana during her childhood. By the time Lola began high school the family had moved to Missoula.





As the oldest of five children, she helped with the care of her younger brothers and sisters. As a young woman, she loved to ice skate and roller skate. She met her husband when one of her skates lost a wheel and he repaired it for her.





She and Raymond Charles Borgstede were married July 19, 1941. She wrote to Ray every day during his four years of military service. They were wholly committed to each other and were happily married for nearly 60 years.





Lola worked part-time at lower Rattlesnake neighborhood businesses, returning to work full time when her daughter was in high school. She worked many years at the University of Montana Mansfield Library. She enjoyed her colleagues and the many students who worked with her.





She enjoyed reading, gardening, baking, hiking and animals of all kinds. After retirement, she and Ray hiked frequently in the Rattlesnake area. They enjoyed time at Flathead Lake, in the early years with her parents and later with her daughter and son-in-law.





Lola believed in the goodness of life and never lost her ability to laugh or to love or to enjoy the sunshine or a puppy. She was curious about life. Problems were solved by hard work. She was generous, kind and caring, gentle and wise, and quietly strong and courageous. Her unconditional and unwavering love was her gift to her family.





Lola is survived by her daughter Shelley Hopkins Poore of Missoula; and by her sister Olive Stickler Edwards of Billings. She is also survived by several sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.





She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Charles Borgstede; her parents Olive and Earl Stickler; her sister Ember Stickler Safford; her brothers Robert and Earl; and her son-in-law James A. Poore III.





Read Lola Borgstede's Obituary and Guestbook.