Irene Kogele

Visitation: Thursday, August 7, 2003 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

Funeral Services: will be held on Friday, August 8, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. in at the First Baptist Church in Broadus

Internment: will follow in the family lot of the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus

Irene Kogele, age 75, of Broadus went to be with the Lord on August 4, 2003 at the Powder River Manor in Broadus.

Irene was born on June 7, 1928 in Center, North Dakota, the daughter of John and Mable Benjamin Yeager. At the age of 2, the family loaded a covered wagon and headed west for Montana. Below the Clay Buttes, between Powderville and Ekalaka on Stump Creek, they homesteaded. She and her sister attended the Powderville School, boarding out in the winter. Around 1937, they again loaded up, moving on to Broadus. In 1942, the family purchased the Terrett Butte Ranch. Life on the ranch was a struggle, but progress was made. She saw the electricity put in, as well as the refrigerator, instead of the icehouse and running water verses hauling water, from team and wagon to tractors and cars. When she was old enough, she attended high school at Sacred Heart in Miles City. In 1945, she married Robert Hope and to this union two daughters were born. They later divorced. Irene received an emergency teaching certificate in 1953 from Black Hills State University and began teaching at the Heitz School at Watkins, Montana located near Brockway. While there, she met and married her life-long love, Wilbert Kogele. They celebrated 47 years of marriage.

She enjoyed fishing, camping, playing cards, and caring for her family. She particularly enjoyed playing music at the Cashway Cafe. In 2001, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she moved to the Powder River Manor. While there, she was an avid bingo player, enjoyed listening to music and would give the staff a hard time, always with a big grin.

Survivors include her daughters: Gloria Compton and her husband Russ of Broadus, MT; Julia Gatlin and special friend, Kenny Gress of Ashland, MT; grandchildren: Kim and John Blain, Kelly and Kim Compton, Kacey and David Stanley, Mindi Hilliard and friend Danny Perry, Doug and Sammie Hilliard; great grandchildren: Jentry, Jarett, Janessa, Garett, Gavin, Kassidy, Kye, Tyrel, Taylor, MacKenzee, Ricky, Miranda, Kyle, Robert, and Natasha; her sister, Alice "Allie" Swope and husband Roy of Forsyth also survive her. Special nephew, Don Kogele of Broadus, along with several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert Kogele in 2000, her parents, and a sister, LaVerne Margaret "Muggy" Fox.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2003 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 8, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. in at the First Baptist Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials made to the Alzheimer's Research, Cancer Research, Powder River Manor, or to the charity on one's choice.