PLAINS - Gertrude A. Bryce, 87, a lifelong resident of Plains and Sanders County, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
Gertrude was born on the Vacura homestead on Camas Prairie on Oct. 18, 1915. In 1918, the family moved to Plains, where her father opened Louie's Garage. This was the beginning of Vacura Motors which operated in the same building that today houses Country Ford. Vacura Motors remained in the family for many years and was the cornerstone of the Vacura family, one of the few Ford dealerships in the United States to remain so long in the control of one family.
On June 17, 1935, she married Harry Smith in Wallace, Idaho. Two sons were born to the couple: Pat, on Nov. 7, 1935, and Mike, on June 19, 1938. She was preceded in death by Harry on Aug. 7, 1954.
After the death of her husband Harry, she was involved in the lease and operation of Harwood House, now Quinn's Hot Springs Resort, on the Paradise cutoff to St. Regis. A serious health problem ended this venture. She later leased and operated Ted's Sandwich Shop on Main Street in Plains for several years.
On Oct. 9, 1958, she married T. Millar Bryce in Plains. They enjoyed traveling in their own aircraft. They traveled extensively in the lower 48 states and also to Alaska, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and the West Indies. In their later years, Gertrude and Millar enjoyed a trip around the world on commercial airlines. On that trip they visited their relatives who were working in England, Italy and Indonesia.
Gertrude had been active in local activities and volunteer work whenever needed. She gave generously of her time to the VFW Auxiliary, St. James Ladies Auxiliary, 4-H Adult Leader, Clark Fork Valley Hospital Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels. She and her husband Millar, along with other volunteers, were instrumental in establishing the Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. She served several terms on the Plains Town Council and remained interested in local, state and national affairs to her last day.
Gertrude had a full and satisfying life. For the last 44 plus years, she was married to Millar and was a wonderful wife to him while in business and the later years of retirement. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her sons and their children. Gertrude was particularly proud of her family and of her Montana heritage and was a solid citizen of Plains, Montana and the United States.
Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Annie; two sisters, Edith Avery and Florence Overcast; five brothers, Clarence, Edward, Wesley, John and Jerry Vacura; and by her first husband Harry Smith.
She is survived by her husband T. Millar Bryce of the family home in Plains; two sons and daughters-in-law, H.A.P. "Pat" and Jackie Smith of Lakeside and M.A.B. "Mike" and Frances Smith of Albuquerque, N.M.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Kalispell, Reno, Nev., Albuquerque and Broken Arrow, Okla.; three sisters, Levina Noll of Fairbanks, Alaska, Ramona Larson and husband Glenn of Polson and Roxanne "Roxie" Brothers of Kalispell; three brothers, Bodley Vacura of Missoula, Albert and wife Helen Vacura of Fairbanks, and Joe and wife Florence Vacura of Kalispell.
A rosary vigil service will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at St. James Catholic Church in Plains. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Kenneth Fortney as celebrant. Burial will follow at Plains Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the VFW Hall.
Coffelt-Bunch Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Gertrude was born on the Vacura homestead on Camas Prairie on Oct. 18, 1915. In 1918, the family moved to Plains, where her father opened Louie's Garage. This was the beginning of Vacura Motors which operated in the same building that today houses Country Ford. Vacura Motors remained in the family for many years and was the cornerstone of the Vacura family, one of the few Ford dealerships in the United States to remain so long in the control of one family.
On June 17, 1935, she married Harry Smith in Wallace, Idaho. Two sons were born to the couple: Pat, on Nov. 7, 1935, and Mike, on June 19, 1938. She was preceded in death by Harry on Aug. 7, 1954.
After the death of her husband Harry, she was involved in the lease and operation of Harwood House, now Quinn's Hot Springs Resort, on the Paradise cutoff to St. Regis. A serious health problem ended this venture. She later leased and operated Ted's Sandwich Shop on Main Street in Plains for several years.
On Oct. 9, 1958, she married T. Millar Bryce in Plains. They enjoyed traveling in their own aircraft. They traveled extensively in the lower 48 states and also to Alaska, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and the West Indies. In their later years, Gertrude and Millar enjoyed a trip around the world on commercial airlines. On that trip they visited their relatives who were working in England, Italy and Indonesia.
Gertrude had been active in local activities and volunteer work whenever needed. She gave generously of her time to the VFW Auxiliary, St. James Ladies Auxiliary, 4-H Adult Leader, Clark Fork Valley Hospital Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels. She and her husband Millar, along with other volunteers, were instrumental in establishing the Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. She served several terms on the Plains Town Council and remained interested in local, state and national affairs to her last day.
Gertrude had a full and satisfying life. For the last 44 plus years, she was married to Millar and was a wonderful wife to him while in business and the later years of retirement. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her sons and their children. Gertrude was particularly proud of her family and of her Montana heritage and was a solid citizen of Plains, Montana and the United States.
Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Annie; two sisters, Edith Avery and Florence Overcast; five brothers, Clarence, Edward, Wesley, John and Jerry Vacura; and by her first husband Harry Smith.
She is survived by her husband T. Millar Bryce of the family home in Plains; two sons and daughters-in-law, H.A.P. "Pat" and Jackie Smith of Lakeside and M.A.B. "Mike" and Frances Smith of Albuquerque, N.M.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Kalispell, Reno, Nev., Albuquerque and Broken Arrow, Okla.; three sisters, Levina Noll of Fairbanks, Alaska, Ramona Larson and husband Glenn of Polson and Roxanne "Roxie" Brothers of Kalispell; three brothers, Bodley Vacura of Missoula, Albert and wife Helen Vacura of Fairbanks, and Joe and wife Florence Vacura of Kalispell.
A rosary vigil service will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at St. James Catholic Church in Plains. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Kenneth Fortney as celebrant. Burial will follow at Plains Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the VFW Hall.
Coffelt-Bunch Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
PLAINS - Gertrude A. Bryce, 87, a lifelong resident of Plains and Sanders County, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
Gertrude was born on the Vacura homestead on Camas Prairie on Oct. 18, 1915. In 1918, the family moved to Plains, where her father opened Louie's Garage. This was the beginning of Vacura Motors which operated in the same building that today houses Country Ford. Vacura Motors remained in the family for many years and was the cornerstone of the Vacura family, one of the few Ford dealerships in the United States to remain so long in the control of one family.
On June 17, 1935, she married Harry Smith in Wallace, Idaho. Two sons were born to the couple: Pat, on Nov. 7, 1935, and Mike, on June 19, 1938. She was preceded in death by Harry on Aug. 7, 1954.
After the death of her husband Harry, she was involved in the lease and operation of Harwood House, now Quinn's Hot Springs Resort, on the Paradise cutoff to St. Regis. A serious health problem ended this venture. She later leased and operated Ted's Sandwich Shop on Main Street in Plains for several years.
On Oct. 9, 1958, she married T. Millar Bryce in Plains. They enjoyed traveling in their own aircraft. They traveled extensively in the lower 48 states and also to Alaska, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and the West Indies. In their later years, Gertrude and Millar enjoyed a trip around the world on commercial airlines. On that trip they visited their relatives who were working in England, Italy and Indonesia.
Gertrude had been active in local activities and volunteer work whenever needed. She gave generously of her time to the VFW Auxiliary, St. James Ladies Auxiliary, 4-H Adult Leader, Clark Fork Valley Hospital Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels. She and her husband Millar, along with other volunteers, were instrumental in establishing the Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. She served several terms on the Plains Town Council and remained interested in local, state and national affairs to her last day.
Gertrude had a full and satisfying life. For the last 44 plus years, she was married to Millar and was a wonderful wife to him while in business and the later years of retirement. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her sons and their children. Gertrude was particularly proud of her family and of her Montana heritage and was a solid citizen of Plains, Montana and the United States.
Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Annie; two sisters, Edith Avery and Florence Overcast; five brothers, Clarence, Edward, Wesley, John and Jerry Vacura; and by her first husband Harry Smith.
She is survived by her husband T. Millar Bryce of the family home in Plains; two sons and daughters-in-law, H.A.P. "Pat" and Jackie Smith of Lakeside and M.A.B. "Mike" and Frances Smith of Albuquerque, N.M.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Kalispell, Reno, Nev., Albuquerque and Broken Arrow, Okla.; three sisters, Levina Noll of Fairbanks, Alaska, Ramona Larson and husband Glenn of Polson and Roxanne "Roxie" Brothers of Kalispell; three brothers, Bodley Vacura of Missoula, Albert and wife Helen Vacura of Fairbanks, and Joe and wife Florence Vacura of Kalispell.
A rosary vigil service will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at St. James Catholic Church in Plains. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Kenneth Fortney as celebrant. Burial will follow at Plains Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the VFW Hall.
Coffelt-Bunch Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Gertrude was born on the Vacura homestead on Camas Prairie on Oct. 18, 1915. In 1918, the family moved to Plains, where her father opened Louie's Garage. This was the beginning of Vacura Motors which operated in the same building that today houses Country Ford. Vacura Motors remained in the family for many years and was the cornerstone of the Vacura family, one of the few Ford dealerships in the United States to remain so long in the control of one family.
On June 17, 1935, she married Harry Smith in Wallace, Idaho. Two sons were born to the couple: Pat, on Nov. 7, 1935, and Mike, on June 19, 1938. She was preceded in death by Harry on Aug. 7, 1954.
After the death of her husband Harry, she was involved in the lease and operation of Harwood House, now Quinn's Hot Springs Resort, on the Paradise cutoff to St. Regis. A serious health problem ended this venture. She later leased and operated Ted's Sandwich Shop on Main Street in Plains for several years.
On Oct. 9, 1958, she married T. Millar Bryce in Plains. They enjoyed traveling in their own aircraft. They traveled extensively in the lower 48 states and also to Alaska, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and the West Indies. In their later years, Gertrude and Millar enjoyed a trip around the world on commercial airlines. On that trip they visited their relatives who were working in England, Italy and Indonesia.
Gertrude had been active in local activities and volunteer work whenever needed. She gave generously of her time to the VFW Auxiliary, St. James Ladies Auxiliary, 4-H Adult Leader, Clark Fork Valley Hospital Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels. She and her husband Millar, along with other volunteers, were instrumental in establishing the Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains. She served several terms on the Plains Town Council and remained interested in local, state and national affairs to her last day.
Gertrude had a full and satisfying life. For the last 44 plus years, she was married to Millar and was a wonderful wife to him while in business and the later years of retirement. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her sons and their children. Gertrude was particularly proud of her family and of her Montana heritage and was a solid citizen of Plains, Montana and the United States.
Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Annie; two sisters, Edith Avery and Florence Overcast; five brothers, Clarence, Edward, Wesley, John and Jerry Vacura; and by her first husband Harry Smith.
She is survived by her husband T. Millar Bryce of the family home in Plains; two sons and daughters-in-law, H.A.P. "Pat" and Jackie Smith of Lakeside and M.A.B. "Mike" and Frances Smith of Albuquerque, N.M.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Kalispell, Reno, Nev., Albuquerque and Broken Arrow, Okla.; three sisters, Levina Noll of Fairbanks, Alaska, Ramona Larson and husband Glenn of Polson and Roxanne "Roxie" Brothers of Kalispell; three brothers, Bodley Vacura of Missoula, Albert and wife Helen Vacura of Fairbanks, and Joe and wife Florence Vacura of Kalispell.
A rosary vigil service will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at St. James Catholic Church in Plains. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Kenneth Fortney as celebrant. Burial will follow at Plains Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the VFW Hall.
Coffelt-Bunch Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
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