Martena Savage, 88

Martena Savage, age 88, of St. Ignatius, passed away on March 13, 2023. She was born on Feb. 22, 1935, to Georgian Eckley Allard and Sidney Allard. Tena was the sister of Doug, Phyllis and Mike, who all preceded her in death.

Tena attended Ronan grade school until the St. Ignatius school bus came to their house and they did not have to walk a mile to catch the Ronan bus. After graduating from St. Ignatius High School as Salutatorian she attended Mills College in Oakland, Calif., for one year. She later attended the Electronics Radio & Television Institute in Omaha, Neb., from which she obtained a position in Washington, D.C., with the Photographic Records and Service Division of the U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information center.

In 1955, Tena returned to St. Ignatius to marry Charles "Shine" Rice, with whom she had two children, Lesley and Kent Rice. They lived in Missoula where she worked at the University of Montana until her divorce.

Tena married Luke Savage and they lived in Tucson, Ariz., and Los Angeles, Calif., until returning to her family ranch in 1966 where she would remain for the rest of her life. Tena helped work the family ranch raising cattle, hay, and grain. She had one more son, Scott Savage.

Tena stayed at home until her brother built the Trading Post in St. Ignatius where she worked for many years. She then started working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes until she retired.

Although she lived in many states and traveled around the United States and Europe, she said she could not find a better place than the Mission Valley. Tena was preceded in death by her husband, Luke, and her eldest son, Les.

No funeral services are planned. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family at www.shriderthompson.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Shrider-Thompson Funeral Home.