VERNA COLLINS obituary

ROCKY BOY - Verna Louise Collins, 81, of Rocky Boy died Thursday March 9, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Her wake service began Friday evening with a rosary service at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. Her funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial was to follow at Highland Cemetery.

Louise was born Aug. 28, 1924, in Nespelem, Wash., to Margaret (Hill) and Cyrus Pursley. She was raised and educated in Nespelem.

She married Gerald Collins April 23, 1956. The couple made their home in Rocky Boy, where she worked as a cook for many years at the Rocky Boy and Box Elder schools, the Senior Center, and the Box Elder Caf. Louise enjoyed working crossword puzzles, watching game shows and soaps on TV, and visiting family and friends. She especially liked visits from her special friend, Sister Mary Margaret.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald Collins; four sisters; and two brothers.

Survivors include her sons, Ed (Hannah) Collins, Tim (Laoma) Collins and Mark (Betty) Collins, all of Rocky Boy, Dale (Linda) Collins of Havre, and Larry (Mavis) Smathers of Tucson, Ariz .; daughters, Linda (Dave) Azure of Havre, Becky (Lee) Odegaard of Issaquah, Wash., and Judy Faust of Fresno, Calif .; sister, Joanne Pursley of Fresno; brother, Jim (Chris) Pursley of Palm Bay, Fla .; 23 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

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