Edith May (Hollo) Bouma

Edith May Bouma (Hollo), 79, of Fairfield was taken to her heavenly home on Friday, May 27, 2022 at the Benefis Peace Hospice House with her loving family by her side.
Edith was born in Fairfield on December 25, 1942 to Jorgen and Mathilda (Rodegard) Hollo.  She was raised with seven other siblings on a farm west of Fairfield and attended Golden Ridge Elementary School. After that she attended Fairfield High School. She married John on January 25, 1961, six months before graduating from high school.
In their early years of marriage they lived in Lincoln, Cut Bank and Choteau. In 1972 they bought the farm in Fairfield where they raised their children. In 1995 they made the challenging decision to sell their farm and moved to Sheboygan, WI to be near three of their daughters. They lived in Wisconsin for 10 years before moving back to their Montana roots, to help with her mother in her last years.  They bought a hobby farm outside of Fairfield.
Edith primarily was a mother and farm wife.  Throughout the years she worked various positions outside of the farm.  She worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Jordan for multiple years, intermittently.  She worked at the Gospel Mission Book Store and as a teacher for Teton Christian School. While living in Sheboygan, she worked as the office manager for JS Richardson.  2001 brought a fun challenge, joining daughter Loralee working for Fujifilm Medical. She often looked at her various positions with gratefulness for God’s wonderful provision.
Her most prized career was that of a mother.  She patiently taught their children every aspect of homemaking, gardening and farming. Her “can do” resourcefulness immeasurably inspired and benefitted her family.  She labored diligently to instruct her children in the ways of the Lord.  She and John were blessed with seven children.  In 1972 the family suffered the heartbreaking loss of 7-year-old Stanley in a drowning accident.
She enjoyed spending time with her children, traveling with their camper and spending time at their family cabin in the mountains. She also loved gardening and spent many an hour tending to her colorful flower gardens. Also very important to her was spending time reading her Bible and praying. Her last whispered words as she hugged her grandchildren close were, "Make sure to pray.”
Shortly before she died, she sang the words, “Then shall the righteous gather round to share the blessing I have found, their hearts made glad because they see how richly God has dealt with me.” Edith was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation.
Edith was described as a peacemaker and was a model of steadfast Godliness. Edith’s gentle nature fostered an unwavering, unyielding bond of love among her family.
Edith is survived by her children, Les and Ginger of Anchorage, AK; Loralee and Bryan Schwanke of Lincoln, MT; Raylene and Mark Casson of Chattanooga, TN; Janelle and Scott Teunissen, of Elkhart Lake, WI; Judy and Glenn Rosenbaum of Helena, MT;  Doug and Kelcy Bouma of Fairfield and Mauricio Morales of Jackson, WI. She is also survived by grandchildren Jonathan and Leanna Bouma of Alaska; Jordan, Tyler, Adriana, Calvin Morales, Michaela, Bethany, Kaitlyn and Abigail Teunissen of Wisconsin; Elliana and Joelle Casson of Tennessee; Elissa (Morales) Grantham of Alabama; Cody, Nathan, Dylan, Kaela Rosenbaum, Kolter, Kaylee, Kail, Kash and Kinley Bouma of Montana; ten great grandchildren; siblings Ingaborg Dickhoff, Karen (Charles) Bauman, Ed (Jerri) Hollo and Jeanette Hollo.
She was preceded in death by her son, Stanley Ray; her parents, Jorgen and Mathilda Hollo; siblings, Holgrim, Nels, Marie, and most recently John, her dear husband of nearly 60 years.
Funeral service for Edith will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 3, at Living the Word Church, Choteau. A reception at New Life Church, 505 3rd Ave So, Fairfield will follow burial.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 2, from 6-7:30pm at Pondera Funeral Homes.

The family wishes to sincerely thank Rev. Witvoet, of Rock Valley, IA for his tender and compassionate pastoral care of our parents, especially in Edith’s last days.

If unable to attend the funeral service, click following link to watch the service live at 10:00am on June 3:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83144335345?pwd=TTI5cm1RQVlYc2FzNkQxOTFYVDE5dz09