Louise Irene (Lynch) Skiftun, 83, passed away Nov. 29, 2007, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Louise was born Dec. 7, 1923, to William James Lynch and Jean Mary (Wilson) Lynch of Lower Valley. She received her primary education at the Hodgeson School in Lower Valley, and graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell with the class of 1942. She spent that summer working on the farm helping her father, as it was hard to find help because of the war. That winter she worked at Associated Seed Company.

In the spring, she went back home to the farm and on Oct. 3, 1943, she married Norman Skiftun, the love of her life, at the Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers. They made their home on a farm in the Swan River community for many years.

She enjoyed gardening, and maintained a large vegetable garden, which she canned, along with many quarts of jams, jellies and meat to feed the family year-round. She loved to sew and was an accomplished seamstress, making her own clothes and also clothes for her three daughters.

She loved to travel, and she and Norman traveled from coast to coast, seeing most of the United States. They also lived in Sitka, Alaska, and Hawaii, over the years.

She was active in the Swan River community, taught Sunday school, and both she and Norman sang in the choir at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork for more than 60 years.

She is survived by her husband, Norman Skiftun; her sister, Joanne (Lynch) Larue of Valdez, Alaska; her daughters, Aneda and Ray Wykoff of Great Falls, and Cathleen Anderson and Carol Carter of Juneau, Alaska; four grandchildren, Lori and Jeff Cormier, Steve and Kristen Childers, Morgan and Dianna Carter and Megan Carter; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

"Be at peace Louise, and free of pain. We love you."

Service arrangements are pending.

Donations in her honor can be made to the American Cancer Society of the Alzheimer's foundation of America.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.