Hildur Jenny Hanson Munson

POLSON — Hildur Jenny Hanson Munson, 89, went to be with her Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, and her Heavenly family on July 11, 2005. She is now at rest in her heavenly home, with her husband, Clifford Munson, who preceded her in death in 2003 at the age of 91.

Hildur was born Feb. 11, 1916, one of twin daughters born unto Hilmer and Marie Hanson, in Bigfork, Minn. She joined two sisters and three brothers in their life at the Norwegian family farm.

At age 18, Hildur moved to Seattle where she received her formal education at Northwest Bible Institute of Kirkland, Wash., graduating as a founding member of the pioneer class.

It was there that she met Clifford Munson, and agreed to marry. Together, this faith-bound couple was to have eight children, all surviving except an infant son, Loren Munson. They are: Richard and Winona Munson of Fairfax, Calif., Hildur Marie and Philip Meador of Glendale, Calif., Doris and Craig Leverault of Mountain View, Calif., Florence and Alan Jones, of Missoula, Helen Munson-Kley and Victor Kley of Berkeley, Calif., Virginia and Phil Clark of Kalispell, and David and Sybil Munson, of Kalispell. She also leaves 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss her dearly.

Hildur also leaves behind wonderful memories with many friends, students, and simply those that her gentle nature touched.

As an entrepreneur, Momma, with her home full of children, realized many dreams-while working as a nurse at St. Josephs Hospital in Polson. She also delivered her prized recipe, greaseless donuts, cooked in her home bakery, to many grocery stores along the same newspaper route that she traveled daily, covering the entire Flathead Lake, enduring all types of Montana weather.

She was the epitome of a multi-tasking woman.

She delivered her beloved knowledge and encouragement to others, helping them to learn, to grow, to be all they could be. Her compassion and love of life and learning encouraged others to strive for more, as she had done. Her joy grew stronger with every person she held out her heart and her hand to.

She strongly believed in education for all, and was involved in the Nursing Educational Program in Polson, including development of fund raising ventures that led to the establishment of the nursing Library of the Mission Mountain College.

The spirit of Momma cannot be summated easily, nor in few words. She embodied faith, love, compassion, joy, and life completely and selflessly. Her Norwegian heritage became a part of all of us — we all learned to eat with a "guufal and shay," and began asking for "schmers" on our breakfast muffins. As these terms wound their way into our daily language, Momma's love and joy wound themselves into our daily lives. She taught all those whose lives she touched, and even at Immanuel Lutheran, Norwegian counting, language, and traditions; she taught love and joy; she taught compassion; she taught patience and tenacity — her very blue Norwegian eyes twinkling, as we all struggled to remember her words and pronunciations of a language most of us didn't know. Let us never forget these lessons of love and faith and life and joy.

Hildur has left this message to all: "Love God; love your family; love people. Make a difference in your corner of the world." We send this message to you, Mom: "Until we meet again, Mother, we love you. Well done, good and faithful servant."

"Enter ye unto the rest that God has prepared for you"

Funeral services were held at the New Life Christian Center in Polson on July 14. Graveside services followed at Lakeview Cemetery. A Remembrance of a Life Well Lived was also held at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell on July 13.