Thelma 'Lee' LaRance

ST. IGNATIUS — Thelma F. "Lee" LaRance, 59, of St. Ignatius, died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006, at Hillside Manor in Missoula.

Born Aug. 1, 1947, to Mary (Keenan) and Pete LaRance, she was raised in the Jocko. She received her LPN degree in Oakland and worked at the Royal Manor and Daly Addition in Missoula, Royal Crown pop factory in Missoula and for private care in Philipsburg and Missoula before working in child care at the Arlee Day Care for many years. In 1985 she moved to St. Ignatius.

A dedicated Elvis Presley fan, she loved to listen to Paul Harvey and had a wonderful sense of humor, but she did have a habit of altering the punchline.

She liked to play cards, chess, dominoes and read. Lee had a kind heart and was always caring and giving. Molly, her cat, was witness to this as she was a special part of Lee's life and ate pretty well.

Lee had many favorites like the color orange and watching "Wheel of Fortune," "The Sound of Music," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and Three Stooges movies. She enjoyed meeting new people and was a master of "50 Questions" if given the chance. She also liked to collect change around town with Parley Kent and tickle phone booths, as she would call it.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mary Riekena, who died last week, and Pete LaRance; brother Bosco in 1989; uncles Harry, Art and Chuck Keenan; and aunts Rose Bacon, Clara DuMontier and Annie Espinoza.

Lee is survived by her brothers and sisters, Dolly Hirsch of Missoula, Vi DuMontier of East Missoula, Pete LaRance of Hot Springs, Nick LaRance of Charlo, Bodge Whitworth of Arlee and Myrna Graham of St. Ignatius; an aunt, Regina Veitenheimer of East Missoula; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

At her request cremation has taken place and services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 (today) in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius.