Loretta Josephine (Bisnett) Widhalm, 91, a homemaker, passed away at Benefis Extended Care of natural causes on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009.
Vigil services were Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church in Valier with funeral mass today at 10:30 a. m. at the church. Burial to follow in Lakeview Cemetery. Pondera Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Survivors include daughters, Rita (Robert) Dige, Rose (Richard) Rogers, Angela (Butch) Balkcum, Helen (Gary) Boysun, Barbara (Patrick) Forster, Maureen Widhalm, Patricia (Rick) Lieberg and Annette (Mike) Gregory; sons, Tony (Linda) Widhalm, Art (Marilyn) Widhalm, Bernard (Karen) Widhalm, Ralph (Gwenna)Widhalm and Mike Widhalm; a sister, Christine Balazic of Chinook; 33 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Mathias Widhalm; a daughter, Lavonna; and a grandson, Scott Widhalm. Loretta was born July 7, 1917, in Dupuyer to Joseph and Mary (Blessinger) Bisnett. She was raised in Dupuyer and attended school through the eighth-grade at a rural school. She married Mathias Widhalm on Nov. 15, 1938, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Valier. He later passed away on March 15, 1980.
