Agnes Marie Stefanatz, 88, left to be with the Lord on Nov. 11, 2005. She passed away peacefully of natural causes surrounded by her family.

Agnes was born Jan. 12, 1917, in Wibaux to Nora and Justin Cassidy. She and her sister, Marguerite, grew up on the family farm and graduated from high school in Wibaux.

Agnes earned her teaching certificate from Western Montana College in Dillon and taught in several country schools throughout Eastern Montana. She met and married her loving husband, Rudy Stefanatz, on June 9, 1941. They had three children, Ed, Nancy and John, and moved to Kalispell in 1950 to raise their family.

She was an active mother, leading 4-H and Boy Scouts as well as teaching piano lessons. She enjoyed knitting and sewing for her family. Agnes was a wonderful cook. Family members would travel for hours to gather and enjoy her home-cooked meals.

Agnes was a longtime member of St. Matthews Catholic Church and faith was an important part of her life. With her husband, she enjoyed dancing and playing cards at the Eagles and Senior Citizens Center.

Agnes is preceded in death by her parents, Justin and Nora Cassidy, and her sister Marguerite and her husband, Leonard Sartz.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Rudy Stefanatz, of Kalispell; sons, Ed and John Stefanatz of Kalispell; daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Vince Jarvis, of Winfield, British Columbia; grandchildren Shelly and her husband, Eric Smith, of Kalispell; Carrie Stefanatz of St. Ignatius; Eddie Stefanatz of Kalispell; Kristen and her husband, Eric Dion, of Winfield, British Columbia; Nicole and her husband, Ryan Neggers, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia; great- grandchildren Cassidy, Kaycee, Claire and Kate.

Agnes, a wife, mother, grandma and friend, will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8:30 p.m. today, with a recitation of the rosary at 8:30 p.m. at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Matthews Catholic Church, with burial afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.