Marie E. (Olsen) Armstrong

Marie Elaine (Olsen) Armstrong, 84, of Conrad, passed away peacefully Friday, August 31,2018, at the Pondera Medical Center with family present.

Memorial services will be held Friday, September 7, at 11:00 AM at the Pondera Valley Lutheran Church with a luncheon following the service.

Marie was born to Knute and Emma (Desjardin) Olsen in Phillips County, Montana on February 6, 1934. She was the third of their seven children. She attended school in Ronan, graduating in 1952.  After graduation, she spent time traveling to visit family before returning to Montana.  Marie attended Western Montana College in Dillion where she obtained her teaching certificate.

She taught school in Conrad where she met and later married Leonard Armstrong on June 8,1958 at the Ronan English Lutheran Church.  Marie soon retired from teaching to raise a family.  Leonard and Marie raised 3 children and had just recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  She was a loving wife and caring mother.

Marie’s faith and church were important to her.  She was a member of Pondera Valley Lutheran Church for many years.  She also enjoyed reading very much.  She often volunteered and donated books to the church’s library.

Marie cherished her family, and she adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Birthday celebrations were especially important to her.  She would travel great distances to attend one of her grandchildren’s parties.  She was always interested in her children’s plans to celebrate their birthday which often lead to a family gathering with cake and ice cream.  Those celebrations were what Marie enjoyed the most: family and dessert.  If there wasn’t a party or she couldn’t attend it, Marie always made sure to send a birthday card.  She seldom forgot anyone’s birthday.

Receiving her education was extremely meaningful for her, and she encouraged others to further their education.  She took great pride in her children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s academic successes, attending graduations whenever she could.  She especially enjoyed listening to her family play music.

Marie is survived by her husband, Leonard; daughters, Elodie (Ryan) Rauscher and  Elaine (Kevin) Mitchell; son, Paul, (Michelle) Armstrong; eight grandchildren, Chance, Kristina, Benjamin, Jennifer (Carl) Flesch, Kaylee (Roy) Benjamin, Larry, Melissa, and Timothy; 6 great grandchildren, Paxton, Samuel, Laura, Joe, Charles, and Gretta; brother, Andrew (Ella Rae) Olsen; and sisters, Martha (Gary) Bingham, Doris Herron, and Dorothy (Tim) Read; numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Knute and Emma Olsen; infant son, Joseph; brother, Bill and sister-in-law, Ginny Anderson; sister, Bertha and brother-in-law, Bob Lettenga; brothers-in-law, Darrell Smith and Fred Herron; and nephew, Greg Olsen.

Marie will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.  Her hugs will be missed.  Memorials in her honor may be made to Pondera Valley Lutheran Church or the charity of your choosing.