Lyla Pugsley

 Lyla Marie Nygaard Matkin Pugsley passed away aged 97 on Friday, June 21, 2024 in Great Falls, MT. She was born at Wolf Point, MT February 12, 1927. She attended Longview Country School for two years then the family moved to Wolf Point. Lyla was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church and graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1945. She attended Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and then worked for the Department of Public Welfare as a social worker at Kalispell, MT for 2 years.

 While in Kalispell she met Bob Matkin and they were married on April 16, 1949 at Wolf Point, MT. In Chester, Bob owned the Liberty County Abstract Company. Lyla worked for 2 years for ASCS, now known as FSA.

Paula was born in 1952 and Kent in 1954. Bob and Lyla built their home in Chester in 1959. Bob passed away in November 1968 (age 52). They had been married for 19 years. Lyla was active in several organizations including Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 4H, Chester Garden Club, Eastern Star, VFW, American Legion Auxiliary, and Genealogy. After the death of Bob in1968 she worked as Secretary for the Liberty County TV board, Liberty County Cemetery District and the US Draft Board (Vietnam War).

 Lyla met Robert L. Pugsley Sr. at a New Years Eve dance in 1969. They were married in Reno, NV, on July 21, 1971. This union added 4 children and their families. They lived at the Pugsley Ranch for 10 years. When Kent married Gail Ludwig, Robert and Lyla moved to Chester and enjoyed being semi-retired. Robert passed away in November 2005. They had been married for 34 years.

Lyla spent her 80s and 90s enjoying her family and friends in Chester. She lived at the house she and Bob built until age 94, when she moved to the Wheat Country Assisted Living. Kent and Gail continue to reside in Lyla's home in Chester. She loved to visit with friends, attended Our Saviors Lutheran Church, and spent much of her time enjoying her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids and many friends and family members.

Survivors include Paula Childers, Kent and Gail Matkin, Bob Jr and Beverly Pugsley, Elizabeth Pugsley, Edie and Tibo Hernandez; 13 grandkids; 24 great grandkids; several nieces and nephews.

Lyla was preceded in death by parents, Paul G Nygaard and Margaret O. (Yuly) Nygaard; sister, Elaine B Sethre; brothers, Burle T Nygaard and Morris S Nygaard; husbands, Bob Matkin and Robert Pugsley Sr; and daughter, Ellen Kemper.

Memorials can be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Chester Garden Club, the Hi-Line Health Foundation, and the Golden Prairie Community Foundation.

Services were held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 3:00 PM with burial following in the Chester Cemetery.