MALTA-Former Chinook/Saco resident Barbara Mary Wegner, 78, a retired cook and waitress, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes.
Memorial services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 12, at the Chinook Senior Center with burial of her cremated remains in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left at www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com. Barbara was born on November 10th, 1931 in Minot ND to Egnos and Mary Kandolf. As a child her parents divorced and she moved to Havre MT and her brother, mom and her live with an uncle for a while. Her mom remarried and they all moved to Savoy. Barbara finished school in Turner. Barbara talked about many people who were good to her in Turner. She had many fond memories of the Big Flat area. After graduating from Turner, she worked at Frip's Cafe in Harlem where she met Solomon Wegner. They were married in Harlem on December 29, 1953. They continued to work in the area for a while but eventually moved to Libby. Barbara was then blessed with seven children. In 1977 the family moved back to Harlem. Barbara worked at Wally's Cafe and then the Senior Center. She continued to live in the area including Saco, Malta and Chinook with her husband. When age became a factor in their lives, she moved to Park Place Care Center in Great Falls to be with her husband.
Barbara was dedicated to her family - raising her children was her first priority! She was an awesome cook! Making bread, pies and cinnamon rolls brings back many memories to the family. She loved preparing meals for family and friends. Barbara enjoyed when the whole family went to pick huckleberries or on a fishing trip. She always had a wonderful picnic lunch for everyone to enjoy.
Barbara had a talent for embroidery, quilting and sewing outfits for the kids to wear. Many of the nieces and nephews received homemade quilts or embroidered dish towel sets that will be treasured. Barbara was good at canning and preserving all kinds of wonderful items that the family enjoyed through out the year. Barbara loved to read, play card games and do crossword/circle word puzzles for her own enjoyment.
Barbara is proceeded in death by her husband of 56 years.
Survivors include two sons - Wilhelm (Paula) Wegner of Idaho, John (Shannon) Wegner of Great Falls and five daughters - Theresa (Jim) Baker of Dutton, Tami (Ken) Tompkins of Ford, KS, Ginger (Karl) Cramer of Great Falls, Sally (Bruce) Anderson of Chinook and Edith Wegner of Lincoln NE, Thirteen grandchildren and six great grand children.
MALTA-Former Chinook/Saco resident Barbara Mary Wegner, 78, a retired cook and waitress, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes.