Verna Esther Straugh

Verna Esther Straugh, 92, of Helena, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 19, at Apple Rehab Cooney. Verna was born on January 6, 1921, in Wibaux, Mont., the daughter of Joseph M. and Betty Novak. Verna attended schools in Bloomfield and Polson. She graduated from Polson High School in 1939. Verna married Clarence E. Seifert in 1940 and lived in Polson several years. They later divorced. Four daughters were born of this marriage: Evelyn Mae, Elaine Faye, Judy Ann, and Jolene Kay. In 1971, Verna married Marion B. "Scotty" Straugh in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She continued to live in Polson until 1999 and then moved to Helena to be closer to family. In Helena, she resided at East Park Villas and Touchmark. Verna always kept busy caring for her four girls and working hard at whatever came along whether it was being a farmer's wife, retail sales clerk, or working at St. Joseph Hospital in the dietary department. Verna enjoyed cooking, gardening, making latch hook rugs, playing bingo, dominoes, and Skipbo, and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Scotty Straugh; two brothers, Joseph J. and Lawrence D. Novak; two sisters, Edith Clara Novak Henson and Laura Raisl; daughter and son-in-law, Evelyn (Don) Hendrickson; and granddaughter, Traci Ann Prevel. She is survived by three daughters, Elaine (Evert) Lovec of Bartlesville, Okla.; Judy (Wayne) Walters of Montana City; and Jolene Fifield of Spokane, Wash.; eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11:00 am at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson with the cremains being interred in Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of donor's choice.
Read Verna Straugh's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.