Joanne Drake, 87, left this life Sunday, May 8, 2016. She passed away peacefully in her sleep, at home with her family.

Joanne was born Frances Joanne Wilson, Aug. 11, 1928, in Duluth, Minnesota, to John H. “Jack” Wilson and Angeline L. “Babe” Chatelle Wilson. She spent her early years in the Duluth area. At 15 years old, she and her family moved to Kalispell in November of 1943. She attended Flathead County High School. After graduating she attended Teacher’s College in Dillon. After completing her education there, she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse at Bald Rock School west of Kalispell.

In October of 1954 she married Elmer E. Drake. During their 38 years of marriage they made their home in the Kalispell area. They had four children together. After becoming a mother, Joanne stayed home with her children. Once her children were in school she held different seasonal jobs around Flathead Valley.

Joanne and Elmer kept a large garden which kept her busy in the summer. Her family looked forward to her homemade jams. She also liked picking huckleberries which she used to make jam and wine. She enjoyed fishing and hunting with her husband and family. After Elmer retired they made several road trips to Alaska and to Georgia to visit their kids and grandkids.

In 1994, after Elmer passed away she moved to Georgia to be near two of her daughters and grandkids. She lived in Chatsworth, Georgia, for many years. In the summer of 2015 she returned to Kalispell where she lived with her granddaughter.

She is survived by a son, Glen Drake, of Wasilla, Alaska; three daughters, Jeannine Drake of Chatsworth, Laurie Haley of Wasilla, Alaska, and Karen Drake of Sevierville, Tennessee. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Carey Sempf of Kila, Angela Haley of New Orleans, Breanna Noel of Wasilla, Jayne Watson of Kila, Kyle Haley of Wasilla, Michael Hawkins of Sevierville, and Mariah Hawkins of Sevierville. She is survived by 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her infant brother, Joseph Wilson; her parents, Jack and Babe Wilson; her husband, Elmer Drake; and her only sister, Lavonne (Mrs. Fred) Cameron.

The viewing is from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday May 13, and the funeral service is at 2 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell is in charge of services.