GOLDA MORRISON obituary

CHESTER Golda Belle Allen, 79, of Chester died Wednesday evening, Oct. 25, 2006, at the hospital in Chester.

Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the Chester Assembly of God Church. Following burial at the Chester Cemetery, a memorial luncheon will be held at O.S.L.C. Fellowship Hall. Golda was born Oct. 26, 1927, at Chester to Ed and Louisa (Stott) Allen. Golda grew up in Whitlash and received her early education there. Her high school years were spent in Thompson Falls, Shelby and Chester. She graduated from Chester High School in 1945. Golda married August “Gus” Laas on March 16, 1946, at a Lutheran parsonage in Great Falls. They made their home on a farm four miles north of Tiber, where Golda worked diligently as a homemaker and mother of six. In 1958, the Laases built a new home in Chester and lived there during the rest of their 43 years together. Gus died of cancer on Sept. 17, 1989, at age 65. In 1995, Golda met a widowed retired pastor, the Rev. Alfred Morrison, at a church anniversary in the Chester community. Their friendship grew and they were married on Jan. 6, 1996, at the Chester Methodist Church. From that time on they spent their summers at Golda's home in Chester and their winters at Alfred's home in Blue Springs, Mo. They were partners in ministry, serving as missionaries to Honduras and Mexico in 1997 and as prison ministers at Squim, Wash., in 1998. They were active in the Thursday night Christian Church chapel services in Blue Springs and served as guest ministers at many churches in the Hi-Line community. The Morrisons also assisted with local Bible study groups and volunteered ministry and musical services at the Liberty County Nursing Home in Chester. They had been married eight years when Alfred died on May 25, 2004. Golda continued to live in the Chester community. She remained loyal to her strong Christian faith and strived on building solid relationships. She had fulfilled her lifelong dream of serving as a missionary. In April of 2006 she was honored to be ordained as a minister. About that same time Golda was diagnosed with cancer. Following a short remission, her cancer returned and her condition deteriorated rapidly this past month. Golda attended many churches during her life, but held membership at the Chester Assembly of God. She served as Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher for many years. She was also a leader in the “Good News Club” for kids and the Christian Women's Club for women. Golda loved to read and study the word of God. She enjoyed her large personal library of religious books, tapes, Cds, etc. In 1996, she published “Poems for the Purpose,” a book containing her inspirational writings and poetry. Golda had many other hobbies. During her school years she played the coronet. In later years she played the piano. She enjoyed embroidery and sewing. In those early years she made many clothing items for her children. In recent years she continued to make the graduate gowns for church baccalaureate services. Golda loved to build jigsaw puzzles. She also loved to host big family meals. She enjoyed several personal collections, including antique figurines, red glass, angel memorabilia and rocks shaped like human feet.

Golda was preceded in death by her husbands; parents; 5-yearold daughter, Tedi Anne Laas in 1952; and brother, Lester Edwin Allen in 1993. Survivors include her children, Donnie (Krystal) Laas of Hillsboro, Ore., Bonnie (Ben) Shaw and Koni (Mark) Comfort, both of Scappoose, Ore., and Cyndy (Joe) LaSorte and Robbie (Tina) Laas, both of Chester; stepdaughters, Aleen Pacitti of Virginia, Adell Janzen of Missouri and Julene Hatlin of Polson; sisters, Evelyn Aiken of Whitlash and Winifred (“Wini”) Barnett of Mesa, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Memorials may be given to the Hi-Line Health Foundation in Chester, Cancer and Cystic Fibrosis research or to the American Bible Society. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.