Lois (Porter) Kimmet (THS 1945) passed away on June 16, 2017 after a short stay in the hospital. Her son, Marvin Kimmet, said that she died peacefully in her sleep.
Lois Helen Porter Kimmet earned her wings on Friday, June 16, 2017. Her family surrounded her with love and witnessed a perfect first flight.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 22, from 6 to 7 p.m. at St. Margaret Catholic Church with vigil services at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be Friday, June 23, at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial in Crown Hill Cemetery will follow and then a reception at the church.
The middle of three daughters, she was born Oct. 13, 1927 to Karl Edward Porter and Thelma Kathleen Knorr in Los Angeles, Calif. Her dad moved the family to the Porter Ranch homestead in Nine Mile Canyon in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and ran an outfitting business and supplemented the family income as an electrician for the Bureau of Power and Light in Los Angeles.
Mom loved the outdoors and was an excellent wrangler of horses and hunters and she could dispatch a rattlesnake with a shovel or rock. Oh, the stories she told us! One of her proudest childhood memories was helping move cattle for the Powers Ranch in the Sierras. She and her sisters attended grade school in the mountains and then worked and boarded-out to put themselves through high school in Trona, Calif., where she formed many lasting friendships.
Always the adventurer, she followed her Aunt “Zip” to Sunburst, where she met the love of her life, George Anthony “Tony” Kimmet who had recently returned from the South Pacific Theater where he flew B-29 bombers. Mom promptly converted to Catholicism and they were married Jan. 26, 1946 in Sunburst and started their family. Their path took them to the farm southeast of Cut Bank in 1953 and it became their permanent home.
They left behind a legacy of love of God, country and family. We are farmers, ranchers, teachers, homemakers, business people and public servants trying to contribute to the well- being of others. Mom taught us there was always room for another plate at the table and somehow made enough to satisfy all and there was always a bed for the weary or lonely.
Her family’s interests and activities are too many to mention. Her church and her community were very important. She was a committed farm wife and active in Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) for many years. She felt honored that she had the opportunity to visit with President Ronald Reagan and present the farm-wife point of view. A woman of tenacity and grit, she was not afraid to express her opinion.
Survivors include: Karen (Jack) Ganje of Great Falls, Judy (Tom) Fetters of Conrad, Kathy (Jay) Vasboe of Cut Bank, Tink Anderson of Cut Bank, Marvin (Becky) of Cut Bank, Martin (Pam) of Powell, Wyo., Mary (Jim) Embleton of Great Falls, Amy Schmerchel of Great Falls, and Karla Kelly (Mark Elison) of Billings; 22 grandchildren, 30 (plus one on the way) great grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Tony; sisters, Gwen Palmer and Jo Griffith; infant granddaughter, Heidi; and infant grandson, Bodie.
We are grateful to the caring staff at Glacier Community Health Care. To the special angels at Benefis Cardiac Unit (Red pod): your compassionate care of Mom and concern for her family will never be forgotten.
Condolences can be made to Lois’ memorial page at www.asperfh.com.
