Noteringar |
- Bio: Virginia Helen (Kojetin) Westrom, 92, a longtime resident of Black Eagle, died of natural causes Monday, Nov. 21, at a local nursing home.Virginia was born Nov. 17, 1919, in Lewistown, Mont. She was the second of three children born to Walter and Hattie Kojetin. The family moved to Great Falls when she was about 5, and also lived in Black Eagle, where Walter was employed at the Smelter. Virginia attended Collins Grade School, St. Mary's and other local schools, before graduating from Great Falls High School. She attended business college and then worked for Kopps Piano House and attorneys John Stafford and O. B. Kotz.In 1940, Virginia married Earl Westrom and they made their home in Black Eagle, where he worked for Phillips Refinery. She was a homemaker and was involved in many church activities. Virginia and Earl were married for 62 years and raised four children.Virginia's life was one of service to her family, extended family, church and community. She served as a lector and Eucharistic minister at Blessed Sacrament Church and belonged to the Blessed Sacrament Altar Society and the Legion of Mary, visiting the sick and shut-ins. Her work with the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine included organizing and teaching religious education classes. She held offices in each of the organizations and typed endless minutes and reports. Later, she wrote articles for The Harvest, the Great Falls Diocesan publication, visited parishes around the state with the Council of Catholic Women and volunteered at the Cascade County Regional Youth Center.Her family, extended family and church were most important to her. Between her husband and her children she must have made "a million lunches to go." She loved to sew for herself, her children and her grandchildren. All nine grandchildren received a handmade quilt after high school graduation. Virginia was the family photographer and said that all the photos and albums told the story of her family. She always remembered birthdays and anniversaries with cards and letters and initiated family reunions. She celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends at Missouri River Manor in 2009, and was presented with a memory book from her family of photos, drawings and memories.Virginia loved shoes, music, dancing, playing pitch and people. She was very sociable and would strike up a conversation with complete strangers and would soon know all about them and then remember their names and the names of their children and grandchildren. Survivors include four children; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister; and four nephews.She was preceded in death by her husband Earl; parents Walter and Hattie Kojetin; brother, Miloyd Kojetin; and nephew Roger Kojetin.Virginia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune on November 29, 2011
|