Ila May Hensler

Ila May (Keough) Hensler, 94, of Missoula, Mont., passed away of natural causes, at home with her family by her side on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

A quiet family Celebration of Life will take place this summer.

Ila was born on Dec. 25, 1929, to Clarence and Bernice Keough near Opheim, Mont. As a young girl, she lived on the family farm and was the oldest of 10 children. Ila attended a one room school house where she was the only girl student. Later, she attended Opheim High School. After graduation, she applied for an office position at Ryan Havre. She got the job, moved to Havre, Mont., and worked at the job she loved for seven years.

On Sept. 25, 1955, Ila married Wilbur Hensler and together they raised four children. She was involved in many community activities and poured her heart into everything she did.

Ila was an artist, athlete and an avid reader who enjoyed many hobbies. She was an accomplished seamstress and homemaker as well. In her later years, she took up quilting and presented each of her grandchildren with a beautiful quilt at their high school graduation.

Ila was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Of all of her accomplishments, she was most proud of her family; both the family she came from and the family she raised.

Ila touched many lives with her gentle and loving spirit and she made friends with people of all ages. Her advice to friends and family was to live an honest life and do what you love.

She is preceded in death by Wilbur, her husband of 55 years; seven siblings; and her oldest child, Steven Hensler.

She is survived by three daughters and their families, Teri and Guy Sharp of Florence, Mont., Linda and Stan Monger, of Bozeman, Mont., and Holly and Mark Mohorcic,h of Missoula; two brothers, Gerald and Bob Keough, of Glasgow, Mont.; along with nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.