Blanche Greenwald

Blanche Lucille Greenwald, 80, of Columbia Falls, passed away Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. She was born March 21, 1928, at the family homestead near Hinsdale. She was the sixth of 12 children born to Elmer and Eliza Jane (Bollinger) Canen.

Blanche graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1946 and married Richard Greenwald later that year. Richard’s military assignments kept her family moving frequently until 1956, when they settled in Columbia Falls. Her talent in cooking, arts and crafts provided a comfortable home for her family. Blanche was the last living charter member of the Columbia Falls Assembly of God Church, where she taught Sunday School for 42 years.

Blanche was a loving, faithful and caring daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, being gracious to everyone she met. She will be missed by her family, her church and many others who came to know the quiet strength of her character, her hope and laughter in good times and bad, and gentleness toward others.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Grace and Goldie; and brothers, Ralph and Cliff.

Blanche is survived by Richard, her husband of 62 years, of Columbia Falls; brothers, Art Canen of Laton, Calif., Lloyd and Dorothy Canen, and Ray and Cora Canen of Glasgow, all of Glasgow, Paul and Anne Canen of Burleson, Texas, and Howard and Verla Canen of Columbia Falls; sisters, Edith Farar of Visalia, Calif., and Millie and Kenny Northrup of Rapid City, S.D.; daughters, Sharon and George Meier of Spokane, Wash. and Diane and Doug Ormiston of Maple Valley, Wash.; sons, Randy and Kris Greenwald of Spokane, Wash., Larry and Pam Greenwald of Columbia Falls and Rich and Kim Greenwald of Cut Bank; grandchildren, Lori (Meier) and Jerrod Olson of Liberty Lake, Wash., Lisa (Meier) and Paul Vigil of Spokane, Wash., Jake and Kevin Greenwald of Columbia Falls, Jessica and Jennifer Greenwald of Cut Bank, and Grant Ormiston of Maple Valley, Wash.; and great-grandchildren, Karissa, Alise, Connor and Evan Olson of Liberty Lake, Wash., and Bethany and Brenna Vigil of Spokane, Wash.

Visitation was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service was to be held Thursday, Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Columbia Falls Assembly of God Church in Columbia Falls. Burial was to follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.