JULIA O'NEIL obituary

BIG SANDY Julia Hansen O'Neil, 82, died Monday evening, Nov. 6, 2006, at the Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls following a two-year battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Big Sandy Historical Museum. Burial of ashes will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. She was born Julia Frances Fisher on April 10, 1924, in a sod house southeast of Big Sandy in the Iliad community to Louis Fisher and Julia Vrabel. Julia received her formal education at the Iliad country school, then began cooking for various families in the area. Julia married Charles E. Hansen on Oct. 28, 1948, in Big Sandy. They lived in Big Sandy and operated a farm west of town. In addition to working diligently as a homemaker and mother of two, Julia also worked as a nurse's aide for 25 years. She first worked as a caregiver at the Sande Convalescent Home, then finished her career at the Big Sandy Medical Center. The Hansens retired from farming in

1980. They were married 43 years when Charles died in 1991. Julia married her second husband, Frederick L. O'Neil, on Nov. 27, 1993, in Havre. They, too, made their home in Big Sandy, where they enjoyed their lives together for the past 13 years. Julia loved to stay busy. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many afghans over the years. She was also renowned for her cooking skills, especially her delicious homemade breads. And she loved to work in her flower gardens. Julia had a strong Christian faith and was a loyal member of the Living Church of God in Great Falls. She enjoyed attending church conventions and reading her Bible and daily devotions. She was preceded in death by her first husband; parents; and brothers, Ben and Louis Fisher. Survivors include her husband, Fred O'Neil of Big Sandy; son, Kurt (Thelma) Hansen of Big Sandy; daughter, Carolyn (John) Boyd of Puyallup, Wash.; stepchildren, Leo (Penny) O'Neil of Denver, Colo., David (Angie) O'Neil of Malta, Ross (Rose) O'Neil of Rudyard, Tammie Gatzemeier of Hingham and Judy (Shawn) Campeau of Billings; 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Ann Beeler of Park City and Marge Glasoe of East Helena; and numerous nephews and nieces. Undesignated memorials will be given to the “Gift of Life” in Great Falls. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.