Merne Marie Hardy, 99
Merne Marie Hardy passed away on Jan. 7, 2023, just 37 days shy of her 100th birthday. This beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and nurse spent her life working her vocation of nursing and taking care of people. After all, she had nine children.
Merne was born in Billings on Feb. 13, 1923 to Benjamin Bonnett and Lucile Long Bonnett. She married Ned C. Hardy on Aug. 4, 1943 in New Mexico while Ned was attending the Air Force Academy. She then finished her nursing degree back in Billings.
Two years later they started their journey as a family and had nine children. The family followed Ned in his work across Western Montana.
Merne worked in local hospitals including Ronan, Deer Lodge, The Montana State Prison, Anaconda Job Corp, Philipsburg, Choteau, and Dillion, where she was the Director of Nursing. Her last job was a RN at a local nursing home where she worked well into her eighties. Her legacy has 14 family members in the nursing and medical field.
Merne’s other passions in life included sewing for her family and others, making blankets, rugs, and hand crafting beautiful Christmas stockings and ornaments. Her ability to make wedding, bridemaid, and prom dresses, as well as toys and western shirts, which will be forever remembered by whoever received them. Another skilled legacy left to her family and friends to carry on.
The family lived in many different places, but remember Moiese as the prominent family home. While there, Merne worked as a nurse, taught and worked side by side in the labors of ranching. Her mornings began with getting up a lot of kids, doing the chores, feeding them breakfast, and sending them off to school. The dynamics of living with many assorted personalities left her no choice but to “Be The BOSS!”
Merne was preceded in death by her husband, Ned, in 2005; her parents; sister Louise Grady; brother Ben Bonnett; daughter Susan Price; sons Ned Carson (Kit) and William (Bill); and grandson Cole Hardy.
She is survived by four daughters, Judy Spath (Terry), Linda Knight (Bruce), Jackie Largent (Jackie Who), and Nancy Evans (Lyle); and two sons, Bryan and Wayne (Billy). She was also loved by David Price (Susan), Alicen Hardy (Bill), and Lorraine (Kit). Adding to the family numbers are 30 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, and several great-great grandchildren.
Merne will be buried with her husband in the Ronan Cemetery at a later date this year. (She kept him on the shelf for 17 years.) This will be a celebration of life for both Mom and Dad.