Frances Elizabeth Abney, 90, of Absarokee, passed away on July 6, 2014, at St. Vincent Hospital.
Frances was born on Jan. 29, 1924, in Grand Forks, N.D. to Emmet E. Farr and Leona C. Cheney. Frances spent early childhood with her grandparents and big brother in Grand Forks. She then came to Montana with her mother and stepfather.
In 1941, she married Wayne Abney in Sidney. They lived in the Judith Gap area until 1947, and then moved to Fishtail. Frances was a cook at ranches while Dad was working on them; she then cooked for the Fishtail school, Absarokee school, all the cafes from Columbus to Fishtail, the Columbus hospital and then she bought the Fishtail Cafe. After the kids grew up and dad started work on road crew, building roads in Montana and Wyoming, Frances moved to many spots where dad was working, but always knew Absarokee and Fishtail were home. They moved to Absarokee after retiring. Frances and
Wayne were married 71-3/4 years when Wayne passed away last year.
Frances is survived by five children, Larry Abney of Bozeman, Judy (Lary) Garrison of Billings, Janet (Dave) Blood of Salt Lake, Bill (Julie) Abney of Helena and Susan Gonsioroski of Absarokee; Brother Dick (Twila) Roberts of Whitehall; 31 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; her son Don; her parents; three brothers, Arthur, Bob and Perry; one granddaughter; one great-grandson and a great many friends.
Along with working and family, Frances was always helping others through volunteering. She worked with all the children and 4-H projects, and teaching children catechism for her church. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW where she held many offices and traveled much of Montana. The grandchildren remember helping her sell poppies. She worked many years with the Absarokee Senior Center. Frances and Wayne together were recognized as Montana senior citizens of the year, which was an accomplishment that epitomized their giving/serving attitude.
Frances was the world's best cook and baker, and a couple of the grandchildren spent many hours in her kitchen learning her secrets. Her sugar cookies are legendary. One grandchild is now a chef, and his grandmother was probably a big reason he chose that career. Frances also made at least a million scrubbies for cleaning your dishes. She sold some, supplied all the family some and gave some to be sold for charity. We will all cherish the ones we have left. Frances loved flowers and had beautiful gardens.
One grandchild said, "My grandmother suffered the loss of a child and nearly lost another in Vietnam. I think because of this she was able to teach us the importance of finding the beauty in everything. As I grew up and watched my grandparents, I recognized a love that has endured the hardships of life — the struggles of pain, the weakness of self. It wasn't always peaches and cream, but their love endured the tests of time. I watched them communicate without speaking and yet teach us so much. My grandmother was an amazing, magical woman. She was able to convince each of her children and grandchildren that they were her favorite. And the magical truth is we all were her favorite."
A Vigil Service will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Absarokee. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the church. Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus assisted the family.
Frances was born on Jan. 29, 1924, in Grand Forks, N.D. to Emmet E. Farr and Leona C. Cheney. Frances spent early childhood with her grandparents and big brother in Grand Forks. She then came to Montana with her mother and stepfather.
In 1941, she married Wayne Abney in Sidney. They lived in the Judith Gap area until 1947, and then moved to Fishtail. Frances was a cook at ranches while Dad was working on them; she then cooked for the Fishtail school, Absarokee school, all the cafes from Columbus to Fishtail, the Columbus hospital and then she bought the Fishtail Cafe. After the kids grew up and dad started work on road crew, building roads in Montana and Wyoming, Frances moved to many spots where dad was working, but always knew Absarokee and Fishtail were home. They moved to Absarokee after retiring. Frances and
Wayne were married 71-3/4 years when Wayne passed away last year.
Frances is survived by five children, Larry Abney of Bozeman, Judy (Lary) Garrison of Billings, Janet (Dave) Blood of Salt Lake, Bill (Julie) Abney of Helena and Susan Gonsioroski of Absarokee; Brother Dick (Twila) Roberts of Whitehall; 31 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; her son Don; her parents; three brothers, Arthur, Bob and Perry; one granddaughter; one great-grandson and a great many friends.
Along with working and family, Frances was always helping others through volunteering. She worked with all the children and 4-H projects, and teaching children catechism for her church. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW where she held many offices and traveled much of Montana. The grandchildren remember helping her sell poppies. She worked many years with the Absarokee Senior Center. Frances and Wayne together were recognized as Montana senior citizens of the year, which was an accomplishment that epitomized their giving/serving attitude.
Frances was the world's best cook and baker, and a couple of the grandchildren spent many hours in her kitchen learning her secrets. Her sugar cookies are legendary. One grandchild is now a chef, and his grandmother was probably a big reason he chose that career. Frances also made at least a million scrubbies for cleaning your dishes. She sold some, supplied all the family some and gave some to be sold for charity. We will all cherish the ones we have left. Frances loved flowers and had beautiful gardens.
One grandchild said, "My grandmother suffered the loss of a child and nearly lost another in Vietnam. I think because of this she was able to teach us the importance of finding the beauty in everything. As I grew up and watched my grandparents, I recognized a love that has endured the hardships of life — the struggles of pain, the weakness of self. It wasn't always peaches and cream, but their love endured the tests of time. I watched them communicate without speaking and yet teach us so much. My grandmother was an amazing, magical woman. She was able to convince each of her children and grandchildren that they were her favorite. And the magical truth is we all were her favorite."
A Vigil Service will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Absarokee. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the church. Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus assisted the family.
Frances Elizabeth Abney, 90, of Absarokee, passed away on July 6, 2014, at St. Vincent Hospital.
Frances was born on Jan. 29, 1924, in Grand Forks, N.D. to Emmet E. Farr and Leona C. Cheney. Frances spent early childhood with her grandparents and big brother in Grand Forks. She then came to Montana with her mother and stepfather.
In 1941, she married Wayne Abney in Sidney. They lived in the Judith Gap area until 1947, and then moved to Fishtail. Frances was a cook at ranches while Dad was working on them; she then cooked for the Fishtail school, Absarokee school, all the cafes from Columbus to Fishtail, the Columbus hospital and then she bought the Fishtail Cafe. After the kids grew up and dad started work on road crew, building roads in Montana and Wyoming, Frances moved to many spots where dad was working, but always knew Absarokee and Fishtail were home. They moved to Absarokee after retiring. Frances and
Wayne were married 71-3/4 years when Wayne passed away last year.
Frances is survived by five children, Larry Abney of Bozeman, Judy (Lary) Garrison of Billings, Janet (Dave) Blood of Salt Lake, Bill (Julie) Abney of Helena and Susan Gonsioroski of Absarokee; Brother Dick (Twila) Roberts of Whitehall; 31 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; her son Don; her parents; three brothers, Arthur, Bob and Perry; one granddaughter; one great-grandson and a great many friends.
Along with working and family, Frances was always helping others through volunteering. She worked with all the children and 4-H projects, and teaching children catechism for her church. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW where she held many offices and traveled much of Montana. The grandchildren remember helping her sell poppies. She worked many years with the Absarokee Senior Center. Frances and Wayne together were recognized as Montana senior citizens of the year, which was an accomplishment that epitomized their giving/serving attitude.
Frances was the world's best cook and baker, and a couple of the grandchildren spent many hours in her kitchen learning her secrets. Her sugar cookies are legendary. One grandchild is now a chef, and his grandmother was probably a big reason he chose that career. Frances also made at least a million scrubbies for cleaning your dishes. She sold some, supplied all the family some and gave some to be sold for charity. We will all cherish the ones we have left. Frances loved flowers and had beautiful gardens.
One grandchild said, "My grandmother suffered the loss of a child and nearly lost another in Vietnam. I think because of this she was able to teach us the importance of finding the beauty in everything. As I grew up and watched my grandparents, I recognized a love that has endured the hardships of life — the struggles of pain, the weakness of self. It wasn't always peaches and cream, but their love endured the tests of time. I watched them communicate without speaking and yet teach us so much. My grandmother was an amazing, magical woman. She was able to convince each of her children and grandchildren that they were her favorite. And the magical truth is we all were her favorite."
A Vigil Service will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Absarokee. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the church. Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus assisted the family.
Frances was born on Jan. 29, 1924, in Grand Forks, N.D. to Emmet E. Farr and Leona C. Cheney. Frances spent early childhood with her grandparents and big brother in Grand Forks. She then came to Montana with her mother and stepfather.
In 1941, she married Wayne Abney in Sidney. They lived in the Judith Gap area until 1947, and then moved to Fishtail. Frances was a cook at ranches while Dad was working on them; she then cooked for the Fishtail school, Absarokee school, all the cafes from Columbus to Fishtail, the Columbus hospital and then she bought the Fishtail Cafe. After the kids grew up and dad started work on road crew, building roads in Montana and Wyoming, Frances moved to many spots where dad was working, but always knew Absarokee and Fishtail were home. They moved to Absarokee after retiring. Frances and
Wayne were married 71-3/4 years when Wayne passed away last year.
Frances is survived by five children, Larry Abney of Bozeman, Judy (Lary) Garrison of Billings, Janet (Dave) Blood of Salt Lake, Bill (Julie) Abney of Helena and Susan Gonsioroski of Absarokee; Brother Dick (Twila) Roberts of Whitehall; 31 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne; her son Don; her parents; three brothers, Arthur, Bob and Perry; one granddaughter; one great-grandson and a great many friends.
Along with working and family, Frances was always helping others through volunteering. She worked with all the children and 4-H projects, and teaching children catechism for her church. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW where she held many offices and traveled much of Montana. The grandchildren remember helping her sell poppies. She worked many years with the Absarokee Senior Center. Frances and Wayne together were recognized as Montana senior citizens of the year, which was an accomplishment that epitomized their giving/serving attitude.
Frances was the world's best cook and baker, and a couple of the grandchildren spent many hours in her kitchen learning her secrets. Her sugar cookies are legendary. One grandchild is now a chef, and his grandmother was probably a big reason he chose that career. Frances also made at least a million scrubbies for cleaning your dishes. She sold some, supplied all the family some and gave some to be sold for charity. We will all cherish the ones we have left. Frances loved flowers and had beautiful gardens.
One grandchild said, "My grandmother suffered the loss of a child and nearly lost another in Vietnam. I think because of this she was able to teach us the importance of finding the beauty in everything. As I grew up and watched my grandparents, I recognized a love that has endured the hardships of life — the struggles of pain, the weakness of self. It wasn't always peaches and cream, but their love endured the tests of time. I watched them communicate without speaking and yet teach us so much. My grandmother was an amazing, magical woman. She was able to convince each of her children and grandchildren that they were her favorite. And the magical truth is we all were her favorite."
A Vigil Service will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Absarokee. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the church. Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus assisted the family.
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