Amanda Eckard

Amanda Eckard, 90, of St. Marie, Mont., died late Friday afternoon, July 1, 2016, at the Billings Clinic after a short illness.

She was born Nov. 1, 1925, in Stuttgart, Germany. She met and married her late husband, Leslie Martin Eckard, after the war was over in Germany. They had two sons in Germany before Martin transferred to Augusta, Ga., where they had their third son. The family lived in Augusta, New Jersey and Huntsville, Ala., where Martin retired. She and the family later moved to Colorado, Washington State and their final move to St. Marie in 1986.

She was a devoted Catholic. She loved to knit and loved to teach anyone how to knit. She loved to make Christmas Stolen and cookies, which she shared with her friends and neighbors. This Christmas Stolen recipe is still being made by some today.

Her life centered around her family by giving all she could of herself and to others. She was loved by all as all loved her. She also enjoyed nature and the beauty it had to give. She also devoted her life to the Lord Jesus Christ and prayed the rosary daily. Wherever she moved to she made friends. Her neighbors were drawn to her by the loving spirit in her heart. She was a gift from above.

Survivors include three sons, Fred Eckard and Paul Eckard, both of St. Marie, and Doug and his wife, Margaret, of McAlpin, Fla.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, July 8, at 11 a.m. at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Glasgow with Celebrant Father Jose Valliparambil officiating. Cremation has taken place at Smith Funeral Chapel in Billings. Family and friends were invited to the St. Raphael Parish Center following the service for lunch and fellowship.