Gaynelle 'Petie' Durward

Gaynelle 'Petie' Durward

Gaynelle "Petie" Durward, 84, of Havre, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.

Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Pastor John Ulrich officiating. The family has requested that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Petie was born on Nov. 12, 1928, in Portal, N.D., to Albert and Gladys (Ridenour) Voss. She was raised in Bowbells, N.D., attending schools there, before going on to college in Minot, N.D. While attending school in Bowbells, she met Charles C. Durward, and the two married on July 2, 1950, in Bowbells, where Petie was working in the county clerk's office. Soon after, the couple relocated to Havre, where they raised their children. Charles owned and ran Havre Paint, where Petie was kept very busy with the bookkeeping and office work. In addition, she worked for the Hill County Zoning Board of Adjustments and the North Havre Community Club until her retirement.

As a younger woman, Petie enjoyed roller skating and bike riding. While raising the children, she volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and was active in the church, especially as a Sunday School teacher. After the children were raised, Petie and Charles enjoyed traveling to Canada on bus tours and enjoyed their overseas travel as well, jetting off to Great Britain, Scotland, Africa and Japan. Petie was a member of the Eagles and Van Orsdel United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Gladys Voss, and her daughter Gaynelle Mee.

Petie is survived by her husband, Charles Durward of Havre; her daughter Lauri (Mike) Connelly of Boise, Idaho; her son Greg (Marcia) Durward of Havre; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; her sister Bea Nelson of Bowbells, N.D.; her brother-in-law Harley (Delores) Durward of Bismarck, N.D.; and her sister-in-law Sharon (Charles) Murphy of Racine, Wis.