Obituary: Grace Janine Halter, aka Noelle Darwin

Grace Janine Halter, aka Noelle Darwin, born in Havre, Montana, Oct. 7, 1935, died at her home in Virginia City, Nevada, Oct. 4, 2016, in the presence of her son Craig Buckner and his wife, Bonnie.

She went to school in Havre until the eighth grade, then to high school in Chico High School in California and graduated in 1955.

She married Jack Buckner. They had two sons, Craig and Mark, and later divorced. She worked at Lake Tahoe for 35 years then moved to Virginia City, Nevada, an old mining town on top of a mountain above Reno.

After moving there, she went into a bar called The Bucket of Blood, a 100-year-old bar, and looked around for about a half-hour, then she talked to Mr. McBride, the owner, and said "I would like to work for you." He said, "We don't need anybody now." She said "Yes, you do. Your T-shirts are not displayed nice and your jackets need to be displayed better. Your slot machines are dusty. The popcorn machine needs cleaning. The back bar is a mess." He said, "No, no, stop. You are hired." She put on her apron and started.

She took Saturday and Sunday off, but she was there to dance, as the Comstock Cowboys were playing from 2 till 7. She would still take care if something needed done. She worked there for 12 years. She decorated the windows and bar for every holiday. They loved her. They paid her till the day she died. She is buried in the McBride Family plot at Virginia City.

She is survived by two sons, one granddaughter, a great-granddaughter and two brothers, Charley Halter of Roseville, California, and Jerry Halter of Polson, Montana.