Agnes Valentine McDaniel

MOIESE — Agnes Valentine McDaniel, 96, of Moiese, died Saturday, May 20, 2006, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan. She left us saying she needed a pretty new dress because she was going to a party.

Agnes was born in Mitchell, S.D., on Sept. 8, 1909, to immigrant parents, Richard E. and Agnes Jennie Katherine (Rasmussen) Valentine, from Denmark. She spent most of her childhood in the Winnett area.

During her later years in school, she moved around the U.S. She left Winnett and traveled to Chicago, where she worked in the Baby Ruth candy factory. Then to San Benito, Texas, where she graduated from high school in 1927. After graduating from high school, Agnes headed back to Helena to attend Intermountain Union College where she earned her B.A. in math. While at college, she was active in basketball, tennis and track.

It was on Valentine's Day in 1930 that Agnes met W.D. "Red" McDaniel on a blind date for the Valentine's Day dance. They were married June 6, 1931. They moved to Moiese in 1935. They spent more than 60 years farming and raising sheep, cattle and chickens. During this time, they had two daughters, Diane J. and Patricia A. Agnes.

She loved living on the farm and helping W.D. Some of her favorite things were raising chickens, her many bum lambs, kittens and gardening.

Agnes enjoyed many different things in her life. One of the many, when she was younger, was riding across the plains on horseback.

In 1939, she joined the Grange. She was a charter member in Moiese. Grange was a very important part of her life. She loved the piano, which she played in the Grange orchestra. She enjoyed tickling the "ol' ivories" whenever she got the chance.

Agnes loved to travel, too. She had gone to Denmark, back to her original roots in 1967 to visit with family that she hadn't met. She had been to Florida, Texas and Virginia and in 1994, she traveled to South Naknek, Alaska, to pick up her great-grandchildren and bring them back to Montana for the summer.

Agnes was an avid reader and could often be found with a book or two or three in progress. Agnes also loved to sew, knit, square dance, play cards, photography and visiting with family and friends.

You could also find Agnes shopping around for a new hat or earmuffs to wear.

Many things could be said about Agnes. She flew like eagles and soared to great heights. She put up a great fight and ran the race. An end of an era has passed. She was a lovely lady, loving mother, wife, grandmother and friend to all. She is in Heaven right now, dancing and tickling the ol' ivories.

She was preceded in death by her husband W.D. "Red" McDaniel; her daughter, Diane J. (Priddy) Van Essen; two brothers; and her father and mother.

Agnes is survived by her daughter and husband, Pat and Dick Kerr of Moiese; five grandchildren and their spouses, Warren and Francie Priddy of Tucson, Ariz., Elvina Priddy of Sultan, Wash., Brenda (Kerr) and Marty Hafliger, Scott and Jackie Kerry and Traci (Kerr) and Clyde Persons, all of Moiese; 11 great-grandchildren, Shannon, Jason, Katie, Alanna, Dawnelle, Mikki, Kira, John, Taylor, Shiloh and Tawnie; and three great-great-grandchildren, Gabe, Colby and Mina; nieces, Agnes Boutchyard and family and Sandy Wright and family of Fredricksburg, Va.; and many friends and family who will miss her kindness.

Should friends desire, memorials may be given to the St. Luke Extended Care Activities Department at 107 Sixth Ave. S.W., Ronan, MT 59864 or to the charity of donor's choice. Private graveside services were held at the Ronan Cemetery.

Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services of Ronan assisted with arrangements.