Lena Lula Mercer Thomas, 96, died Tuesday, May 17, 2005, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

She was born Jan. 25, 1909, in Fort Branch, Ind., the eldest of five children of Gem and Lydia Ulrigg Mercer. The family lived at Ava, Mo., moving to Missoula, in 1918. Lena attended Lowell Grade School and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1927 where she was a member of National Honor Society, the debate team and president of the senior class. She attended Montana State University and worked at Missoula Public Library.

She married Edward William Thomas in Missoula, in 1929, and the couple resided there until 1975 when they moved to the Rollins area of Flathead Lake. Following the death of Edward in 1999, Lena resided at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

During her many years in Missoula, Lena was active in school and youth activities and community projects. She served as president of Missoula Woman's Club in 1950-51 and was a member of First Methodist Church. Later at Flathead Lake, she was a member of the Polson Friends of The Library. She loved caring for her family, reading and writing letters and journals and doing needle work and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; a brother, Gerald Mercer; and a sister, Rita Mercer Nelson.

She is survived by brothers, Gem Mercer of Polson and Harry Mercer of Visalia Calif.; daughters, Patricia Arm Colby, of Seattle and Rollins, and Shirley Jane Harryman, of Kalispell; a son, Gary Edward Thomas, of Langley, Wash.; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place and a private family memorial service will be planned for a later date.

The family suggests memorials to the Polson Public Library or to Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.