Marie J. Banyai

April 19, 1921-April 13, 2013: MISSOULA – Marie J. Banyai passed away Saturday, April 13, 2013, of natural causes at Riverside Health Care Center.

Marie was born on April 19, 1921, the second child of four to Ralph and Elizabeth (Schneider) Messmer in Glendive. At an early age, the family moved to Lefor, N.D., and then to where they farmed. Marie was educated in Lefor and Miles City, where she attended nursing school at Holy Rosary. Marie's nursing career took her to Forsyth, Tacoma, Wash., Dickinson, N.D., and Missoula. Marie married Nicolaus J. Banyai on Oct. 16, 1945, in Tacoma. They made their home in Norfolk, Va., where their first child was born. The next move was to Dickinson, where their second child was born. In 1957, the family moved to Missoula and two children were born there.

Marie loved to fish, especially on the Blackfoot River. She also enjoyed two trips to Alaska, fishing on the Kenai River. Marie enjoyed cooking, baking, and growing vegetable and flower gardens.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Jim and Robert; sister, Caroline; husband, Nick; and granddaughter, Randi. Marie is survived by her daughter, Jeri (Gary) Beaulieu of Lolo; sons, Jim (Debbie) of Seattle, Jan (Kelli) of Challis, Idaho, and Jerome of Kalispell; grandchildren, Lisa Beaulieu, Lynn (Dale) Jorgenson, Bill Beaulieu, Travis (Andrea) Banyai, Nicolaus (Brenda) Banyai, Megan Banyai, Veronica (Chuck) Winkler, Raymond Banyai and Trevor Banyai; and great-grandchildren, Brian Jorgenson, Jessica Jorgenson, Leah Banyai, Kadyn Banyai, Nicolaus Banyai, Jasmin Banyai and Damian Winkler.

Viewing will be held on Friday, April 19, at Garden City Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 20, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone at Riverside Health Care Center for the excellent care and love extended to our mother.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at missoulafuneralhomes.com.

Read Marie Banyai's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.