Lois Markle

Lois Marguerite (Wilson) Markle peacefully passed away at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, Mont., on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017, from complications of a stroke. She was 96 years old.

She was born March 14, 1921, in the Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow to Mary (McKitterick) and Floyd G. Wilson. She attended Glasgow schools for most of her education and graduated in 1938. She attended MSU in Bozeman and NMC in Havre where she studied business and earned a private pilot's license. Returning to Glasgow, she was employed by Mountain Bell and in the Valley County attorney's office before her marriage to O.E. Markle in April of 1942. They lived in California while O.E. was in the Army Air Corps and where their oldest son, Tom, was born. They moved back to Glasgow in 1945, and were blessed with Jack, Dick and Janet.

An important and meaningful part of her life was her work with the Glasgow High School Educational Trust, started in 1964 by members of her class of 1938. She was a founding board member and served as chief executive officer until 2000. It was a great satisfaction to her as the trust helped GHS graduates further their education while it also provided much-needed equipment for the school. In recognition of her work with the Trust, the auditorium at Glasgow High School was named the Lois Wilson Markle Auditorium. It was a great honor to her.

She was very active in St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, serving for many years as leader of the Altar Guild. She and O.E. were active participants in numerous civic organizations. She had many talents which she graciously shared with so many. She was a wonderful cook and meticulous with her needlework; she enjoyed golf and found great joy in playing bridge with her friends.

She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her sister, Alice Huxsol; three brothers-in-law, C.D. Markle, Tag Markle and Robert Huxsol; and one sister-in-law Jean Markle.

She is survived by four children: Tom and his wife, Cindy, Jack and his wife, Jeanine, Dick (Janet Perkins), and Janet (Meredith) Reiter; nine grandchildren, Mary Beth Kofstad and her husband, Kevin, Drew Markle and his wife, Ashley, Michelle Huntsman and her husband, Brett, Annie Compson and her husband, Rob, Dirk Markle and his wife, Bonnie, Bess Reid and her husband, Nick, Kitty Earley, Krista Traxler and her husband, Ty, and John Earley and his wife, Anna; 18 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law Kae Markle; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family funeral service was held at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow on Saturday, Aug. 5, with Episcopal Deacon Shirley Putz officiating. Friends were invited to a celebration of her life at the VFW Club in Glasgow beginning at 4:30 p.m., on Aug. 5. Inurnment was at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow.