NATALIE JOY obituary

KALISPELL - Natalie A. "Cookie" Joy, 87, died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kalispell. Urn burial will be at C.E. Conrad Cemetery.

Natalie was born Sept. 3, 1917, at Kalispell to Herman and Amalie Shirmer Kienas. She grew up on a dairy farm west of Kalispell. At the age of 16, she went to work at a logging camp in Eureka as a cook and babysitter. Her summers were spent on the family farm. At 18, she went to work as a maid for Kerr, who was president of Leigh Valley Railroad. She continued to work as a maid in New York, Seattle, Wyoming and Sacramento.

On July 23, 1945, Natalie married Harry Joy Jr. in Somers. They made their home there, where she was a wonderful mother and housewife. She worked hard her whole life. Natalie's family meant everything to her. She had a wonderful sense of humor and gave great pleasure to everyone who knew her. She had a quiet wisdom and a steady comfort.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Joy Jr., in 1986; parents; sister, Elsie; and brothers, Arnold, Albert, Alfred and Edmund Kienas.

Survivors include her son, Stan (Debby) Joy of Havre; niece whom she raised as her daughter, Ramona (George) Mahoney; five grandchildren; sister-in-law, Janice Kienas of Kalispell; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Buffalo Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.