Saturday, November 23, 2024
34.0°F

Dorothy Henrietta Sume McFadyean, 99

| March 1, 2017 7:29 PM

Dorothy Henrietta Sume McFadyean, 99, formerly of Eureka, died on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.

She was born in Decker County, Minnesota, to Alfred and Effie Sume. She was one of four children, the third child, born Oct. 17, 1917. When Dorothy was 7 years of age the family moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, and later to Crete, Nebraska. In 1928 the family move to Montana and located on a ranch near Gateway, which was near the Canadian border and is now submerged under Lake Koocanusa. She attended high school in Eureka and graduated in 1936.

She spent the next five summers working in Glacier National Park where she met and married her husband, Donald McFadyean, in 1940. Together they owned and operated a small grocery store in Cut Bank. In January 1943 when Donald was inducted into the Navy she and their son David went to live with her parents near Gateway.

In February 1947, after Donald was discharged from the U.S. Navy (1946) she and Donald established Mac’s Market in Eureka. A daughter, Dolly, was born to the couple in 1950.

Dorothy was an avid gardener during this time in Eureka, an excellent seamstress, making her own clothing, loving the challenge of a Vogue pattern. She also made numerous table clothes, doilies etc., of intricate crochet patterns throughout her active life.

In 1980, due to Don’s poor health they sold their businesses and also the ranch they lived on, and moved to Oregon for nine years. There, Dorothy enjoyed extensive walks with Don, continued sewing, and added crafts to her hobbies. They returned to the Flathead Valley in 1988 to be near their children. They built a home in Country Estates north of Kalispell and enjoyed being “back in Montana.” Don passed away in September 1999.

Dorothy has never really recovered from the loss of Don. He was such an intricate part of her life. She came to Heritage Place in September 2011.

Dorothy is survived by her son, David, and wife Arlette, who make their home in San Tan Valley, Arizona; her daughter, Dolly Crum, and husband, Doug, who make their home in Libby; two granddaughters, Kari and Kimberly; great-grandchildren, Matt and Katie and baby DJ; nephew, Clyde “Bumpy” Sume and nieces Patsy (Sume) Keeper and Laura (Sume) Grimes.

Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 4, at the First Baptist Church in Eureka.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.