JUNE B (BILSKI) MAXWELL Obituary (1933

June Beverly Maxwell, age 82, resident of West Kootenai, Montana, died at the Mountain View Manor in Eureka, Montana, on Sat May 14th, 2016 due to complications from long standing heart and diabetes diseases. June was born August 19, 1933 in Vulcan, Michigan to Andrew and Frances Bilski. Four siblings, William, Dorothy, Shirley and Patricia survive her. One sibling, Barbara, has passed. June's father, an iron ore miner, died when she was age 7. Her mother required two years of Tuberculosis hospitalization during her middle school years. June was the band's majorette while in high school. After high school graduation, she moved with girlfriends and sisters to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she worked in the secretarial field. She met her husband, deceased in February of 2003, while he was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base. Leo and June married, on July 18, 1955, and began residence in southern California. After having her first child, she dedicated herself to stay at home status. Leo, soon afterward, was hired on as a Downey, CA firefighter. June was regularly active in the catholic school and church events. She supported her three children and her husband in their many endeavors. June and Leo, due to Leo's love of fishing and hunting and local Montana relatives, the Mel and Ethel White family, after retirement and after building a house, moved to the West Kootenai, Montana in April of 1986. June, encouraged by Ethel, began volunteering, supporting a series of elementary school teachers, in the local school. She continued this work until the year before her death. She was also very active in Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church activities: Eucharistic ministry, catechism teaching, fund raisers, volunteer work, etc. June found time to develop her love of art and sewing. She quilted, sewed, stamp collected, did photography, flower pounded, painted, scratch boarded, sketched, flower arranged, gardened, baked bread, made special jello, and canned jam. She entered many items, which won ribbons and prizes, in the county fair. June was named County Fair Lady in 2006. June is survived by her three children, California residents, Frances, Andrea and Brian, Brian's wife, Cheri, and their child, the only grandchild, Jessica. Rosary will be held Sunday June 19th, 2016 at 6pm at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Folks are encouraged to join the family at the Rosary in order to share June stories. The Rosary will be the only opportunity for June tales to be told/heard. Mass of the Resurrection will be said Monday, June 20th at 10:30 am with a brief burial service held immediately at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery. A reception will be held in the church basement after the burial. Please call Frances at 714 827 8631 should you have any questions. The family would like to thank all for the love and support provided to June in the last few months and in all the years June resided in Montana. It was June's adamant decision to remain in Montana, not move back to California. Neighbors, relatives, school and church folks, too many to name, provided special care for June. Her children are extremely appreciative as they were not always available to make the long trek north to assist. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Heart Association and/or to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.