Mildred W. Boyer

Mildred W Boyer passed away peacefully Fri, January 18th, 2013 at St. Patrick Hospital, after a week of
sharing from her hospital bed, her ninety five years of love and wisdom to each of her children,
grandchildren, great grandchildren, and lovingly caressing the cheek of her new great, great grandson.
She smiled at seeing all her family surrounding her for a last goodbye. She knew how to live and she knew
how to die with her deep Christian values, strengthening all.
Her last five years were spent happily and independently at Burlington Square Senior Residence in Missoula,
Mt. She was a natural leader, gathering so many friends together there, playing pinochle, bridge, poker and,
bowling tournaments throughout the week.
She was born Sept. 15th, 1917 in Trenton, Missouri to Harry and Grace (Brassfield) Woodruff, then they
moved to Montana to homestead near Knowlton in Custer County, Mt. When she was not yet two years old,
her mother became ill and passed away on her way to see a doctor in Miles City, fifty miles away.
Her father later married Bertie Jones, a nearby homesteader who had lost her husband, and together they
raised Mildred and Bertie's two sons, Jim and Vern Jones on their combined homesteads.
School was a large part of her life, having attended country schools nearby, high school in Miles City,
college in Eastern Montana College obtaining a lifetime certificate. With her lifetime certificate, she taught in
the same country schools she had attended. Later, she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary
Education the same year her son graduated from college.
During her teaching career in the early 40's, she met and married Harold L Boyer. They had a daughter Joan
Annette, and a son Gary Lee. They farmed along the Yellowstone River, near Forsyth, while Mildred
continued teaching in Forsyth School. They later purchased the Standard Oil Bulk Plant of which Harold
operated while she continued to teach well past the time her first students' children began attending school.
After they retired, they moved to Flathead Lake near Lakeside, Mt where they enjoyed entertaining friends
and family, fishing, gardening, playing cards and traveling in their motor home. After Harold died in Feb,
, 1990, she continued to live there attending church, star, plays, jazz festivals, and traveling with her dear
friend, Jo Ann Vagg and others until her move to Missoula to be near family.
Surviving family include, her daughter Joan Newman (Rod) of Missoula, her son Gary Boyer (Donna) of
Darby and Dillon, grandchildren Rhonda Dolcater (Randy) of Darby, Brady Anderson-Wood (Elaine) of
Missoula and Renee Morrison (Noel) of Darby and Muskogee, Ok., four great grandchildren AJ Jenkins of
Washington D.C., Miranda Simmons (Matt) of Darby, Lauren and Lacey Dolcater of Darby, and a great,
great grandson Logan Simmons of Darby. Two sisters in law, Wilma Boyer and Mary Lou Butcher of
Washington, a special cousin, Ruthie Brown of Miles City, and other cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mildred Boyer Memorial Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 1800 So.
Russell, Missoula Mt. 59801.
There will be a celebration of her life at Burlington Square at 2 p.m., Tues, Jan. 29th, 2013 and at the
Knowlton Cemetery this summer.

Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home & Crematory. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Mildred Boyer's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.