Marian Joan Wise, 85

Marian Joan Wise, 85, of Missoula, peacefully slipped away at her home on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2018, surrounded by family and dear friends.

She was born to Laurren Thomas and Doris Wise on Jan. 4, 1933. She was raised on a small homestead in Bad Rock Canyon, just outside Glacier Park. She attended school at Cornelius Hedges in Kalispell, and graduated from Flathead County High in 1951. She attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane, graduating in 1954.

Marian was blessed with three children; her son Laurren Thomas was born in Spokane in 1955. Her son Jeffrey Paul was born in Kalispell in 1957, and her daughter Elizabeth was born in 1970, also in Kalispell. She worked in obstetrics at Kalispell General Hospital. She was also a member of the Kalispell Jayceens, and acted as volunteer coordinator for the Museum at Central School in Kalispell.

A lifetime learner, Marian returned to school, graduating from Flathead Valley Community College in 1984. She continued her studies at the University of Montana, earning a master’s degree in counseling in 1990.

She continued her nursing career at Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork, then served as house director of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in Missoula. She retired in 2007 at the age of 74 after a distinguished career serving others.

Marian loved her home state of Montana, especially Glacier Park, which she visited countless times in her lifetime. She was an accomplished seamstress, having sewn many beautiful quilts for her family.

A loving mother and working woman, Marian balanced her family life and career in a time when few women worked outside of the home. She was preceded in death by her sister, Romaine Wise Hazen.

She is survived by her sons Laurren Thomas Nirider and Jeff Nirider, daughter Elizabeth Nirider, granddaughters Laurren Nirider, Lailie O’Keefe and Hannah O’Keefe, and sister, Bonnie Wise Herron.

A memorial tour in her honor will be held in the spring at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell, hosted by her family.