Mariann Gjefle

Mariann K. Gjefle passed away on August 26, 2024 at the age of ninety-nine. She was born on March 14, 1925 in Hereford, Texas to Franz and Ida Koesler. She moved to Missoula, Montana at the age of three with her family.

She attended Missoula Catholic Schools and nurses training at St. Catherine's Nursing School in Gary, Indiana. She married Ralph Gjefle on November 22, 1952 and they raised a large and lively family together. Mariann mentored a generation of nurses through her work at St. Patrick's Hospital.

As a woman of strong Catholic faith, she faced every challenge that life threw at her with grace, humor, humility, strength, and patience. Mariann showed a remarkable ability to adapt to virtually any situation, including illness, choosing to take a positive approach and an attitude of grace. She grew up in poverty during the depression, was crippled as a young child by polio, survived a stroke, and at times was the sole breadwinner for her family of seven children. In her nineties, she survived multiple bouts of Covid. Through all of this and more, she somehow maintained a kind and loving demeanor. She never gave up. Mariann knew the meaning of "enough" and was able to be content with what she was blessed with at the time. She prioritized others over herself. Her family recalls that she spared comforts for herself to make holidays magical for them.

In old age, Mariann continued to appreciate her caregivers at The Village, continuing to support them with mentorship and insights as they supported her.

Mariann's legacy is her large family and the many people to whom she showed kindness. She is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Gjefle, her parents, her six siblings, her son Michael Gjefle and her grandson Matt Lausch. She is survived by her children, Francis Gjefle (Sandy), Libby Lausch (Doug), Mark Gjefle (Rita), Lorraine Gjefle, Steven Gjefle (Susan), David Gjefle (Anne Caprez). Mariann was blessed by a bounty of fourteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild - still counting.

Mariann's mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church at eleven o'clock on Tuesday, October 22, reception to follow. Mariann will be interred at St. Mary's Cemetery Annex at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, Mariann requests that donations be made to Shriner's Hospital or St. Jude's Hospital.

A livestream link for the memorial service will be posted shortly before the service begins from the church's YouTube channel.