Martha A. Brien

Martha A. Brien, born to Emma and Jacob Baier on a wheat farm near Pheasanton, N.D., on Feb. 13, 1923, the second of seven siblings, passed to the loving arms of her heavenly Father on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014.

Martha moved to Montana at the age of 4, settling in the Bitterroot Valley. She always tells the story of arriving in the fall with the bare essentials and little food, having to eat dry beans and apple butter from the Gray Orchard on the west side , where her father worked on the farm.

She married George R. Brien Jr. on March 8, 1942, living all their 54 married years in Hamilton and raising two daughters, Patricia and Dolores.

Martha worked hard all her life, picking strawberries, working beet fields as a young girl and waitressing in several cafes as a young woman. She was employed by Sprouse Reitz during the Christmas seasons and later by Anthony's Department Store. She had a sewing/tailoring shop and sold sewing machines. She worked as a housekeeper at Marcus Daly hospital and becoming head housekeeper was a great point of pride for her.

Mother was very involved in several community activities. She was initiated into Leona Chapter 31 of Order of Eastern Star on March 20, 1958, serving two terms as worthy matron and participated in all the offices many times, as well as being a member of Order of the Nile and mother adviser for Rainbow Girls. She was also a member of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary Marching Team and a 4-H leader, teaching young girls sewing and cooking skills. She assisted at Daly Elementary School for many years as well as a care minister for the United Methodist American Baptist Church. She knitted hundreds of caps for young children every winter and numerous afghans for the Shriners Hospital. All these activities and she always made time for her family, making handmade quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as several afghans for them.

She is survived by daughters, Patricia (Rulon) Buhler and Dolores (John) Malletta; five grandchildren, Dan (Dicksy) Buhler and their daughter Kaytlynn, Dana (Wes) Robison and their son Wesley W., Debra (Andrew) Shackford, John (Holly) Malletta and their children Mia, Adison, Ryan and Zoey, and Angela (Harold) Lance and their children Isabella and Trey. Also surviving are sister, Jean Romanick and family; and brothers, Norman (Rose) Baier and family and Jim (Marilyn) Baier and family.

Martha is preceded in death by husband, George; parents, Emma and Jacob Baier; sister, Doris Clevenger; and brothers, Arthur and Kenneth Baier.

A celebration of life will take place at the UMAB Church in Hamilton on Monday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. Friends may pay their respects prior to the service from 1 to 2 p.m.

Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, next to her husband. Friends are encouraged to return to church for a reception following the burial.

The family is most grateful for the friends and staff at Sapphire Lutheran Homes and The Remington, for the loving care Martha received.

Thanks also to the medical staff at Marcus Daly Hospital, Home Health Services and Hospice Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Marcus Daly Hospital Hospice Center.

Arrangements are under the care of Livingston-Malletta & Geraghty Funeral Home in Missoula

Read Martha Brien's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.