Junette Arlene Dalke

Junette Arlene (Lauckner) Dalke was born Nov. 28, 1939, to Ruth Palma Lauckner Bauer (Erickson) and Arthur Louis Lauckner in Glasgow, Mont. She grew up on a farm that she loved along with her younger brother, David Lauckner, Milton Bauer and sister Bonita (Bonnie) Lauckner Hooper. She especially loved her horses, cows, dogs and any animals she met.

After graduating from Nashua High School (go Porcupines) in 1958, she moved to Billings to be closer to her grandmother, Inga Erickson, and fabulous aunts, Florence, Frances and Pherne. She started her first job at the county hospital (now Eaglecliff Nursing Home). She genuinely loved working for her patients and took pride in working with the healthcare team.

One night she went out to partake in her next favorite pastime, dancing. Off to the Horseshoe Inn with her fabulous aunts. This is where she met her future husband, Donald Dalke, and they were married a few months later on June 9, 1959.

Along came her first-born son, David Donald Dalke, on May 20, 1960. Boy did she love living on her own farm, raising her new family so much she added her next little helper, Jeffery Scott Dalke, on June 14, 1965. Life was still great, so they welcomed their first girl, Jodi Lynn Dalke, on Aug. 24, 1967. They finally stopped with perfection by bringing home Loretta Lyn Dalke (Elle Dalke Maurisak) on May 28, 1970.

Life was wonderful and delightful as she worked at Billings Deaconess Hospital. Life turned yet another direction in 1977 after losing her best friend and sister, Bonnie, Elvis, and divorcing the love of her life.

In 1983, she moved to Tacoma, Wash., to be closer to her fabulous aunts again, where she worked at Multi-Care/Mary Bridge Hospital. She enjoyed her photography and meeting with different dance groups.

Next came her new loves in her life, her grandchildren, beginning with Kyle Dalke, Nathan William Dalke Wheeler, Kayla Dalke (Smith), Caitlyn Dalke, Caleb Dalke and Claire Lynne Chambers.

She absolutely loved her family, friends, coworkers and caring for her patients. She loved to laugh, joke, tell funny stories, collect recipes, cook ginormous spreads for her coworkers, dance at singles' functions, spend time visiting with her mom and stepdad and put together puzzles.

She spent her last days where her work journey started, at the Eagle Cliff Nursing Home, surrounded by family, friends and devoted staff. On Nov. 25, 2017, her liver and kidneys may have failed her, but love was always given and received, for now and eternity. She died at 78 years of age.

She was proceeded in death by her mother, Ruth Erickson Lauckner Bauer; her father, Arthur Louis Lauckner; and a sister, Bonita Lauckner Hooper.

Survivors include two brothers, David Lauckner and Milton Bauer; two sons, David Dalke and his wife, Robyn, and Jeffery Dalke and his wife, Mary Jane; two daughters, Jodi Dalke and Loretta "Elle" Dalke Maurisak and her husband, Peter; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She will be missed greatly.