LENA STAMPER obituary

BOX ELDER/GREAT FALLS Lena F. (Parisian) Stamper, 83, of Glendale, Ariz., previously of Great Falls, a retired nurse's aide, died Saturday, May 19, 2007, at a Glendale, Ariz., hospital of natural causes.

Funeral liturgy will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with burial to follow in Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. A vigil service was scheduled for Tuesday night at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Box Elder and again at 7 p.m. today at O'Connor Memorial Chapel. Lena was born Sept. 27, 1923, to Clara Gardipee and Joseph Parisian in Lebret, Saskatchwan. She grew up and attended schools in Montana. Lena married Firm “Bud” Stamper in 1947 in Tacoma, Wash. She worked in several nursing homes throughout Montana and also worked in home health care. Lena was a devoted Catholic and was a member of the Eagles. She won blue ribbons for her needle work in various county fairs. She enjoyed gardening and fishing with her husband in their retirement and traveling in their fifth-wheel. She loved spending time with her “Little Honey” April Mae. Lena was preceded in death by her husband, Firm “Bud” Stamper in 1993; grandchildren, Jason Padgett in 1983 and April Dawn Stamper in 1999; sisters, Margaret Swan and Mary Douglas; and brothers, Paul Parisian and Eddie Parisian. Survivors include her daughters, Mary McKague (Jim) of Naples, Fla., Helen (Andrew) Windy Boy of Glendale, Patty (Bruce) Hilbig of Great Falls; sons, Eddie (Daisy) Stamper of Rocky Boy, Rick Stamper of Helena; sisters, Stella Flanagan of Kalispell, Olive Rosette of Box Elder, Bernadette Lords of Rapid City, S.D .; brothers, Thomas “Zeke” Parisian of Box Elder, Lenny Parisian of Box Elder; 18 grandchildren; and 18 greatgrandchildren.