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IRENE RISHOFF, Obituary

KALISPELL Irene Gustina Rishoff, 90, died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, at a Kalispell rest home.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Mountainview Cemetery in Shelby.

Irene was born Feb. 17, 1912, at London Township, Minn., to Ida Midge and M.E. Olson. she grew up on a Minnesota ram and received her formal education in Minnesota. Following the death of her father, Irene was sent to Montana to live with an aunt and uncle.

While in Montana, Irene met a Chester-area mechanic, Claude Broadhurst. They were married in 1929. They had two children. Following their divorce, Irene remained in Chester, where she cleaned houses and worked as a bartender.

About 10 years later, Irene met Lothair-area farmer, Marvin E. Rishoff, who had been discharged from the Army during World War II. They were married on Dec. 3, 1946. They had one son. The Rishoffs built a new home on the farm north of Lothair in 1949 and lived there until they retired in 1971. They moved the house into Chester and resided there for many years. They lived at the Sweetgrass Lodge for a short time, then moved to Kalispell in 1993 to be near their son and his family.

During the early years on the farm, Irene enjoyed driving the tractor, combine and truck. She continued to work part time as a Chester bartender, assisting at the Tip Top, Grand and Vets Club. During that time, she collected more than 100 decorative liquor bottles. Other hobbies included knitting, crocheting afghans, and quilting. She enjoyed gardening, both flowers and vegetables, and canning her produce. She also liked to play cards.

The Rishoffs attended the Trinity Lutheran Church north of Lothair in those early years. They were also members of the Moose Lodge.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her older son, Claude Broadhurst Jr., who was killed in the Korean Conflict; and seven siblings: James, Oliver, Esther, Ken, Alvin, Ruth and LaVonne.

Survivors include her daughter, Jean Harris of Diamond Springs, Calif.; son, James Rishoff of Kalispell; sister, Jewell Bellmore of Kalispell; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.

 

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