Minnie H. Wall

Minnie Helen (Ducky) Skinner Wall passed away peacefully on November 26th, 2011 at the Rosebud Health Care Center Nursing Home. There are so many memories of this beautiful woman who was loved by all who met her. She could speak high or low German, very impressive for her family! She was always in the kitchen cooking or baking, and trying out new recipes! Playing cards with family and friends was a favorite pastime. She was known far and wide for her special ginger cookies! Ducky loved studying birds, and kept bird feeders in her yard so she could spend time watching them. Her bright smile would light up a room and made you feel as though all was right with the world.
She was raised during the Depression, and the thrift she learned at that time followed her through the rest of her life. She never wasted anything!
She was born April 9th, 1923 to Ernest and Lena (Senne) Duckwitz in Hebron, North Dakota. She graduated from Hebron High School and attended Dickenson State University. Later she moved to Colstrip, Mt., where she was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad as a telegraph operator. It was there she met her first love, Fenwick Skinner. They were married in Billings, Mt. on January 18th, 1947 had two sons, Timothy and Thomas and remained in Colstrip until 1956. They spent one year in Eureka before she moved to Billings to earn her teaching certificate. Later in life she received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. She and her sons joined Fen in Glasgow where she taught in the Southside Elementary School until her retirement.
Ducky was very active in the Methodist Church, Montana Education Association, and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She lost her beloved Fen in 1968 after a courageous fight with cancer. She married Buzzy Wall in 1976, and extended her family with 4 wonderful step children. She moved to the Riverview Villa in Forsyth in 1996, a year after Buzzy´s death. She remained in Forsyth until 2002 when she moved to West Park Village in Billings. Ducky returned to Forsyth in August of 2011 and lived there until her journey to walk with the Lord at her family reunion in heaven.
She is survived by her two sons: Timothy (Pat) of Ronan and Thomas (Shirley) of Colstrip. Timothy´s three children, her 3 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren: Ron (Michelle) Skinner, sons Timmy and Cameron of Seattle, WA, Shane (Crystal) Skinner, sons Wyatt and Logan of Bozeman, MT, Tricia (Miles) Mason, sons Blake and Kiptyn of Seattle, WA. Four step children: Mary Jane Patton, sons Michael, Bob and Tom, Michael (Mary) Wall, children, John, James, Jeaneen and Cory, Beth (late David) Scott, children, Ryan and Tanya, Laurie (Dennis) Maag, daughters Mary (Chadd) Sukut, son Luke, Ashley Maag, Emily (Branden) Blake. Sisters: Helen (late Tony) Maas, Gertrude (Gilbert) Knopp, Hedwig (Louie) LaRocque, and Carolyn (Lary) Marthaller. Sister-in-laws: Hazel and Elaine Duckwitz and Gene Boslaugh.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband's, sister Clara Duckwitz and brothers: Carl, Albert, Paul (late Hazel), George and Harold Duckwitz, brother-in-laws: Darrel (late Selma) and Duncan Skinner and Don Boslaugh.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth is in charge of arrangements. Services will be held on Monday, December 5th at 10:30 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons, followed by a luncheon. Cremation has taken place and interment will be held on Friday, April 20, 2012 in the Custer National Veterans Cemetery located at the Little Big Horn Battlefield with her first husband Fen.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Rosebud Foundation at P.O. Box 500, Forsyth, MT 59327