Irene Danz, 103
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 1 hour, 10 minutes AGO
Beloved local Bigfork Artist Irene Danz, 103, passed away July 21, 2026, at Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork. We will miss your smile, laughter and sense of humor.
Irene Ruth Reed was born on Nov. 14, 1922, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She was a proud member of the Oneida Indian Nation Tribe.
She grew up in Green Bay during the Depression and World War II. Irene and her sister, Lorraine, were part of the Rosie the Riveters during the war.
Irene married Willard L. Danz on Jan. 1, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. After Willard was discharged from the Navy, the couple made their way across the northern states as he worked on the highway that would eventually become the Hi Line across northern Montana before finally settling in Ferndale in the late 1950s. There, they raised their children Daniel, Leon, Sandy and Rodney. They were married for 59 years until Willard passed away in 2003. She loved being a mom, grandma and great-grandma.
Irene loved drawing and painting, often taking art classes in other mediums because she loved learning about the different forms of art and artists. Her pencil drawings of portraits were very detailed. She also had many paintings of landscapes, animals and people that were exceptional. She liked getting together and painting with her art friends.
She waitressed at the Terrace Supper Club in Swan Lake in the late 1970s through the1980s.
Irene is survived by her children Daniel (Donna) Danz in Columbia Falls, Leon Danz in San Francisco, Sandy (Jim) McGill in Bigfork and Rodney (Sheila) Danz in Bigfork; grandsons Kevin, Jason and Justin Dan, Mike, David and Andy McGill, Nathan and Jarrett Danz; granddaughters Nichole Manning and Jordan Farewell; great-grandchildren Alexis, Austin, Aiden, Hunter, Easton, Tessa, Brayden, Holden, Ashlyn, Christopher, Mark, Carter, Kheen, Keltie, Kaisie, Paizlee, Pyper and Evelyn. She is also survived by her sister Lorraine Hansen, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Irene was preceded in death by her mother Florence Reed and husband Willard Danz.
The family would like to thank Flathead Council Agency on Aging-Meals on Wheels. The staff at Lakeview Care Center and Stillwater Hospice for her care. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is taking care of the family.
A Mass will be held on Aug.11 at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork at 9 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Montana Veterans Home Cemetery in Columbia Falls at 11 a.m.