Shirley A. Colbry

Shirley Ann Colbry, 67, of Chester, passed away Monday, November 6, 2017.

Shirley Ann (Toren) Colbry was born April 18, 1950 in Conrad, Montana. She was one of 5 children born to John Toren and Margaret Alice Gemar Toren.  Shirley grew up on the family farm and helped around the house outside of Valier, Montana and was involved in choir while she received her formal education at Valier High School.

Shirley met Earl Colbry at a dance in Valier, MT and were married on June 7, 1969.  They made their home on the Colbry farm north of Chester where they raised five children.  Shirley loved her life as a farm wife and mother.  She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, baking and helping at Bible School, she served as a 4-H Leader, and was active in the north country Bible Study.  When winter arrived, mom would be the first one into the snow to make a snow angel and start a snowball fight.  Every December mom busted out all the stuff to make Christmas candy.  All the kids would help to make these sugary creations to distribute to neighbors.  Playing dice or cards games kept the family busy.

Every summer, the Colbry family would enjoy huckleberry picking (varying from picking at Kentla Lake, Devil’s Creek Campground, and Lost Johnny & Lid Creek at Hungry Horse) where she stayed at the campsite waiting the arrival of the pickers to clean them to make Fresh Huckleberry Pie’s.  She enjoyed spending summers and holiday’s at Flathead Lake whether it was spent with at her parents house in Lakeside or at her in-laws house at Table Bay Resort.  She enjoyed visiting with her friends in the community, attending her children’s games to cheer them and the J-I Rams on.  She also enjoyed helping out at the Joplin Mart when Kathy Pimley needed her shelves cleaned.  When grandkids arrived she loved spending time with them and usually had a camera in her hand taking pictures.

She was diagnosed with melanoma cancer on September 30, 2017 where she was admitted into the Liberty County Medical Center where she received the best care from the staff there until her passing.

Shirley passed away peacefully on Monday morning (November 6, 2017) at the age of 67.

Shirley is survived by Earl Colbry; her children and grandchildren: Brent (Tari) Colbry, Bryce & Ryan of San Diego, CA; Brenda (Ray) Hetherington, Alex, Tyler, Jade & Katie of Warrenton, VA; Bethany (Jim) Bender & Colby of Billings, MT; Ben (Angel) Colbry, Tiffany & Shiloh of Chester, MT; Bonita (Adam) Munson, McKell, Mistaya, Maverick of Chester, MT; brothers: Art (Dana) Toren of Kalispell, MT; Ed (Lana) Toren of Columbia Falls, MT; sisters: Sharon Toren of Lakeside, MT; Margaret (Rick) Berland of Kalispell, MT; and numerous nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: John Toren & Alice Gemar Toren; nephews Connor Hayes & Steven Toren, a niece Mandi Hayen, and numerous Aunts & Uncles.

Funeral services will be Friday, November 10, at 10:00 AM at Chester Assembly of God Church.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.