Wanda May (Younger) Hale

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 Wanda Hale, age 89, went to be with the Lord.

Wanda was born January 10, 1926 to Oratio and Dorothy Younger in Valier, Montana. When she was nine years old her mother passed away. She grew up quickly helping on the farm by running the household and helping raise her younger sister Blanche.

Wanda graduated from Valier High School in May 1944 and on June 6 ^th of that year she married F. Lee Hale. Lee and Wanda had a daughter in 1959 and a son in 1960, both of whom died on their first day of life.  Unable to have their own family, they spent many happy hours helping out friends by caring for kids who became very special to them, and who have remained close to Wanda. She loved and doted on the six children of her sister Blanche and was a very special aunt to Lee’s nieces and nephews.

Wanda was very active for all of her years in Valier. She is most well known for her many years of employment at the Panther Café. She worked for 50 years as clerk of the Valier Cemetery District, owned the weekly newspaper for a time, and held many other positions in various local businesses. She and her sister Blanche made wedding cakes and catered receptions for many years. She loved doing handwork and sewing in her spare time, completing many treasured heirlooms for her family and friends.

Wanda spent decades in service to her community, enjoyed being a church school teacher, was active in Rebekah’s and Eastern Star and worked with various organizations and boards. In 2000 she was voted senior citizen of the year for Pondera County. She was a member of the Valier Baptist Church.

After 69 years in her Valier home, she moved to a nursing home. At the time of her passing she was a resident at Village Health Care Center in Missoula Montana.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ora and Dorothy Younger, husband Lee Hale, infant daughter and infant son, her sister Blanche Barron, and her brother Lyle Younger. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Funeral services will be held at the Valier Baptist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday October 31 with interment following at Lakeview Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Valier Baptist Church, PO Box 141, Valier, MT 59486, or Great Falls Rescue Mission, PO Box 129, Great Falls, MT, 5940