Irene L. Gardner, age 90, of Broadus formerly of Hammond and Belle Fourche passed away on June 21, 2019 At the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City.
Irene Lenore Lakson Gardner was born on March 8th, 1929 in Lead, SD, the first daughter of Albert and Martha (Palo) Lakson. The family had a farm in the Fruitdale community and was surrounded by many neighbors and extended family predominantly with Finnish roots. A few years later a sister, Phyllis was born. Martha and Albert came from large families, her childhood was filled with family gatherings of cousins, aunts and uncles in the Fruitdale, Snoma, Vale, and Nisland communities. Irene attended grade school at Fruitdale, and graduated from Belle Fourche High School. She attended Brookings University (SDSU) where she met her future husband, Edwin Gardner. They were married in Belle Fourche on May 15, 1949 when Edwin returned from Japan after serving in WW II. They moved to the Gardner Ranch with Edwin’s parents, Clarence and Peggy (Brandeberry) Gardner raising sheep, cattle, pigs and kids. Irene was busy on the ranch and her family was the center of her life. She was involved in the community at Hammond/Boyes, member of the Boyes Community Club and was president and her number one agenda was building the club hall, member of the Woolgrowers and later Stockgrowers, a 4-H leader and Gourmet Club. Irene was a charter member of W.I.F.E. traveling all over the state promoting agriculture. She was a founding member of the Montana Ranch Beef, and Worthy Matron of Eastern Star.
Irene was a fantastic cook and she cooked for many a hired man and usually had extras at her table. She could help out anywhere on the ranch and still care for her family. When the REA brought electricity in the mid-1950’s she was so grateful. They built a new house in 1963 which housed her growing family. In 1965 they bought a house in Broadus when Sue Anne started high school. Irene and the 5 kids lived there during school, returning home on the weekends and summers. Edwin and Irene moved to Belle Fourche in 1988 to be close to her aging parents. While living in Belle she was involved in several bridge clubs, one was with only Finnish speaking ladies and it would cost money if you spoke English. Irene joined the Questors, Beta Sigma Phi, Antique Club, PEO and was on the Tri-State Museum board and volunteered at the library. Her family joked if you didn’t get on her calendar early you may not see her if you just showed up. She loved being involved in her community, whether it was in Hammond, Broadus or Belle Fourche. If you were at her home, the coffee was on and she welcomed you to share a cup and visit. Irene loved to shop for antiques and her home was filled with many treasures but the greatest treasure to her was her family, young and old.
Irene is survived by her children, Sue Anne and JR Iman, their children Gretchen and Mark Svee, Trevor Iman; David and Pat (Phillips) Gardner and their children, Josh and Misty, Tyler and Kelli, Todd and Nicole Gardner; Doug and Kerry( Kaufmann) Gardner and their children ; Ren and Tiffany, KayCee and her fiancée , Chase Moore, and Myles Gardner; Greg and Lynn( Gordon) Gardner and their daughter, Brittney and Wacey Cathey and Julie Kilty and David Bartlett and children, Brennan and Amanda and Kyle and Taryn Kilty. Irene’s great grandchildren, Vivian and Isaac, Britta and Aspen; Libby, Ellie, Shelbi, and Kendal; Carson, Cooper, Colton, Clay and Harper; Addison and Jamison; Zoe, Lakson and Kerry Dee. One sister, Phyllis Lakson Brudus and her family and cousins.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edwin, one son in law, Kerry Kilty, one grandson, Geoffrey Gardner, her nephew, Mike Brudus and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended families. Memorials maybe given to the Boyes Community Club, Belle Fourche Museum, or Powder River Manor.
A family to receive friends will be held on Monday, June 24, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Son’s Funeral Home in Broadus, MT. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Boyes Hall in Boyes, MT. Interment will be at the Snoma Cemetery. Should friends desire condolences can be made to the family by visiting stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday June 24, 2019
Stevenson & Son's Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Graveside Service
3:00 p.m.
Tuesday June 25, 2019
Snoma Cemetery
Fruitdale, South Dakota 57717
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday June 24, 2019
Stevenson & Son's Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Graveside Service
3:00 p.m.
Tuesday June 25, 2019
Snoma Cemetery
Fruitdale, South Dakota 57717
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Larry and Dawn Draine says
What a beautiful woman, inside and outside. I always had so much respect for her. She will be missed. Much love and sympathy to Irene’s family.
Carol Schneidt says
My thoughts and prayers are with the Gardner family! Irene was a special lady!
Sharyn Wallace says
Oh man, this is another tough one. This lady graced Powder River County. She is going to be missed by all her wonderful friends and the most humble and gracious family I have ever met. Fly high beautiful, fly high.
Nancy Cole says
Irene and Ed were wonderful neighbors here in Belle Fourche. God bless the memory of Irene Gardner.
Klayton and Mary Jane Rogge says
We are so sorry for your loss Gardner family. Irene smiled big and lived a joyful life. She was a gem.
Bill and Kara Lambert says
To Irene’s family, our sincere sympathy. Irene was a grand lady. She will be missed.
Virginia Major Waller says
I remember spending alot of time with the Gardners as they were good friends with my folks. Very special kind lady. Your in my thoughts and prayers
Jim and Kathy Bowers says
So sorry! May she rest in peace in God’s loving arms!
Rhonda Traub says
So sorry for your loss, Sue Anne and Family. You are in my prayers 🙏
Carol Hanrahan says
My thoughts and prayers are with all of Irene’s family. A lovely lady that God took. She and Edwin were lifelong friends of my parents, wonderful people!
Carol Mellor Hanrahan
Kirk and Ann (Schneidt) Will says
Our thoughts and prayers are with Irene’s family. So sorry for your loss. Irene was a kind, gentle loving woman who will be missed by all who knew her!
Merrilyn Jones says
I always admired Irene’s beauty, graciousness, and sense of humor. My sympathy, and prayers go out to her family. She and Ed were wonderful friends to my parents, and I have sweet memories of fun our families had together.
Kathy Biesheuvel says
Prayers for the family of this gracious lady. I am so sorry for your loss, friends.
Vanna Lancaster Byrd says
May God bless and comfort you. She was indeed a Grand Lady. My heart breaks for all of you.
Laura Lee Ullrich says
Heaven has surely gained an angel. Irene was so special to me my whole life. She was so encouraging in everything I did. She and Nancy Espy gave my wedding shower and it was a very classy event! I so enjoyed our visits at the Manor as well. Her wonderful family is her legacy. She and Edwin wrote the book on marriage and family. Rest in peace dear friend.
Wayne & Anita Wetherelt says
so many thoughts & prayers to all of the family. so enjoyed of our visits over time. Peace & love to ll of you.
Bernice Rolfson says
Losing Irene is like loosing a member of my own family. Ed and Irene have been a part of family for sixty years. I have so many wonderful memories. Go in peace gracious lady. Prayers to the family,
Karen Gunther says
Irene was a very special lady and you will have many memories to remember
Pat (Carl) Phillips says
June 22,2019
My prayers to the family and may Irene rest in piece. She made lots of memories here among us.
Shawn and Wendy Richards says
So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for all of Irene’s family!
Sylvia Zimmer says
Prayers of comfort for all the family….
SALLY A. BORLA says
SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE LOSS OF OUR LONG TIME FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR –I ALWAYS ENJOYED SEEING IRENE AT THE BOYES CLUB MEETINGS AS SHE WAS SO PRETTY WITH HER DARK HAIR AND BEAUTIFUL EYES. MY MOTHER USED TO ENJOY HELPING WITH THE TWINS AND SHE OFTEN SAID “WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THEM WOULD BE MY TAX MAN SOMEDAY.” ED AND IRENE HAD A WONDERFUL FAMILY AND THEY CERTAINLY ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY. SHE WILL BE MISSED BY MANY. GOD BLESS HER FAMILY.
Joyce Holmes Raschkow says
So sorry to hear of the beautiful and amazing Irene. She was a very special lady.
Prayers to all of the Gardener family.
Alvin and Jo Raschkow
Bill & Chris Tipton says
Prayers and condolences to all of Irene’s family. Heaven has surely gained another beautiful angel.
Janet and Thorval says
Lovely lady. She was a Soriety sister and friend of people I knew in Montana. Our condolences to the family of Irene Gardner. Janet and Thorval Jensen.
Tom and Shannon Lund says
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to the entire Gardner family. May you Rest In Peace Irene.
Bill and Candy Loehding says
Our sympathy to all of Irene’s family! Irene was a remarkable lady and a wonderful example for all of her family and friends. She leaves behind a great family. A life well lived for sure!
Amber Wood says
Grandma Irene you will be missed by all of your family and those of us who considered ourselves family. What a tenacious, elegant and strong woman..runs in the family.
You are all in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers.
Betty Collins says
Sympathy to Irene Gardener’s family. She was a beautiful and grand lady. She will be missed by everyone that touched her life especially her families. May she rest in the arms of our savior. Skin and Betty
Bill and Dina says
We are so sorry for your loss. Keeping you all in our thoughts.
Charita (Richards) Brunner says
Dear Gardner Family,
What a great lady Irene was. I will always remember her smile and beautiful attitude. She was always so helpful and caring. You were all blessed to call her mom. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
John and Patty Jackson says
Our dear neighbor, we were so fortunate to know Ed and Irene and their family. We will so miss our talks on the porch. love and prayers to your
family.
Judy Denson-Keller says
My heart, thoughts, prayers, and hugs go out to the Gardner family at this time. With Irene’s passing, the community of Broadus suffered yet another significant loss. I remember Irene when she was on the board when I was a Rainbow Girl. I remember how fun she was when she chaperoned our many trips to Grand Assembly. She really enjoyed being with us and was such a good sport when we picked on her while playing “spin the bottle.” I remember her as always being a happy, upbeat, and beautiful person both inside and out. She was another person with a heart of gold. May God Bless all of you and may she rest in peace.
Ted Freese says
My name is Ted Freese and I am from Lenexa, Kansas. Our family is very sad to hear about the passing of Mrs. Gardner. In 2004 my mother Alberta Freese for her 80th birthday wanted to go back to her birthplace and visit the cemetery, Snoma Finnish Cemetery where her grandparents, my great grandparents are buried. Her grandmother who lived in Terraville, SD anow a mine pit in Lead, SD, who actually delivered her when she was born. After a lot of research and with the fantastic assistance of Irene Gardner and the grave maps she had at her house we were able to find the burial plots for my great grandparents Catherine and Peter Kilpela, immigrants of Finland and Sweden, and two of their children. There were no markers on their gravesite at that time but there are now and only because of the information that Irene had and our family is forever grateful for us being able to visit the site of our ancestors. I last saw Irene around 2007 and 2010 when I went to get the key for the gate for the Snoma Finnish Cemetery. I am visiting the cemetery again this year in July and was going to get in contact with Irene and discovered she had passed away, this is a sad day for me to find that out as she was so helpful to our family. I am elated though that she was put to rest at the same cemetery that I will be visiting in July and I will make sure to stop by and say my thank you’s to her personally. God Bless to her family and once again our family sends our condolences.