WILLA KOOCH obituary

Willa Kooch, 69, of Havre died at her residence Friday, Feb. 24, 2006.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Holland and Bonine Funeral Home with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial of ashes at Highland Cemetery in Havre. A luncheon will follow at the Vets Club in Havre.

Willa was born Oct. 13, 1936, in Chester to Melvin and Ella Erickson. She attended Havre High School and worked at Dido's Caf and the Eagles Manor.

She married Kenneth Kooch on Oct. 12, 1996, in Havre. She lived in California for many years and has been in Havre since 1970. She owned and operated the Arctic Circle in Havre with her husband and daughter Kathye and son-in-law Lorin.

Her hobbies included arts and crafts, collecting plates, working crossword puzzles and playing pinochle. She enjoyed spoiling members of her family. She loved animals and had a habit of spoiling them also. She also loved to camp and fish. She has been a member of the Moose Lodge and Salvation Army.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Kooch; daughter, Kathye (Lorin) Teske Etchison of Havre; sisters, Phylis Christopherson, Betty (Bill) Hafner, Laura Hafner, Sue Roberts, and special sister-in-law, Tammy Pozega Erickson, all of Havre; sister, Doris (Bob) Bishop of Great Falls; two grandsons; brothers, Dave and Ron Rowin of Havre; stepfather, Howard Rowin of Havre; several nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles; and her pets, Sassy, K D and Lucy.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ella May (Cady) Rowin; father, Melvin C. Erickson Sr .; brother, Melvin C. Erickson Jr .; sisters, Donna Roberts and Charlene Rowin; niece, Roxanne Shelstad; and greatnephews, Nathan Green and Clayton Morse.

Memorials in her honor may be made to the Gift Of Life, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406.

Services and arrangements are entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.