Dorothy L. (McKechnie) Bronken

Dorothy Lucille Bronken passed away on June 2, 2014, in Missoula, Montana.  Born in Dunkirk, Montana on April 16, 1923, she was the 7 ^th of 12 children of John A. McKechnie and Emma Anderson.  Dorothy grew up in Dunkirk and Shelby.  She graduated from Shelby High School in 1941, and the next day went to work for Mountain Bell Telephone Company.  She was the only operator working on that fateful Sunday in December 1941 when the switchboard lit up with frantic parents all over north central Montana wanting information about their loved ones serving in Pearl Harbor.  This experience prompted her to enlist in the Navy, where she served until 1946.  She married Lyle Bronken on June 16, 1946.  They farmed and raised their four daughters on the Bronken homestead north of Dunkirk until Lyle’s passing in 1972.  Dorothy moved to Phoenix, Arizona from 1975 until 2000, where she enjoyed the sunshine, climbing Squaw Peak, and her many dear friends.  She married Howard Snyder in 1990, who also preceded her in death.  She then returned to Montana and resided in Missoula, where she became an avid Grizzlies fan.  Dorothy loved spending time with her large family and circle of friends, climbing up mountains and down canyons, sewing, cake decorating, playing cards and horseshoes, traveling, and entertaining.

She is survived by her brother Sam (Karen) McKechnie of Billings, and daughters Barbara (Chuck) Nevin of Florence; Lila (Steve) Edlund of Leavenworth, Washington; Beth (Randy) Cash of Lake Stevens, Washington; and Brenda (Chip) Miller of Shelby; as well as grandchildren Adrea and Lyle (Alissa) Nevin; Jeff Bennett; Janae (Tyler) Kopet; Brian, Shannon, Kevin, and Nathan Cash; and Kyle (Tricia), Craig, and Robby Miller, along with great-grandchildren Lauryn Wilson, Jeremy Nelson, and Charlie Anne Nevin; John (Sarah) Kopet, Kaitie (Ryan) DesRoches, and Kara, Michael, Christian, and Katherine Kopet; and great-great grandchildren Titus and James DesRoches, along with many nieces and nephews who were very dear to her heart.

Dorothy was preceded in death by husbands Lyle Bronken and Howard Snyder, parents John and Emma McKechnie, brothers and sisters Jim McKechnie, Isabelle Shonkwiler, Effie Bell, Archie McKechnie, Inez Key, Harris McKechnie, Jack McKechnie, Jean Karpenko, Evelyn Cox, and Richard McKechnie, as well as 2 great-great grandchildren, Annelise DesRoches and Jane Kopet.

Dorothy was a long-time member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Shelby, where her memorial service will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.  Donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, the University of Montana Foundation, or the charity of your choice.  Whitted Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.  Please visit Dorothy’s online memorial and leave a message of condolence for the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com