June Moser

June “Shorty” V. (Latsha) Moser, 71, “entered into eternal life” on Sept. 3, 2012, in Kalispell after a short but courageous battle with Burkitt’s Lymphoma.

She was born in Herndon Rural District, Penn., on May 29, 1941, the daughter of Lawrence E. and Catherine R. (Baker) Latsha. 

June spent her early years in Norristown, Penn., where she attended school and received an award for her beautiful penmanship. While she did not graduate from high school there, she felt it important to complete her GED later in life with her sister-in-law Judy in 1984.  

In December 1961, she married Jacob Moser III, of Norristown, her beloved husband of nearly 47 years. He lovingly knick-named her “Shortcake,” but she was called “Shorty” by many of her friends and family.

June and her husband moved to the Silver Tip Ranch in Martin City with the Moser family in 1971. She loved the outdoors and took pride in keeping the ranch raked, mowed and shoveled, and she maintained a beautiful flower garden. She also knew her way around a car and drove her ’66 Mustang until the floorboards nearly fell out. She loved driving, so she took care of the many family errands such as running to the post office, store and doctors offices.

She enjoyed working at the Ol’ River Bridge Inn and worked with some of her closest friends there. When not working or being a family caretaker, she was very active at St. Richard’s Catholic Church and was a member of the Martin City Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.

June was the type of person who touched many lives with her kindness. She was always there to offer a ride to someone who could no longer drive or otherwise needed assistance. When asked to contribute to a bake sale, she would bake up a storm. Her smile was contagious and her blue eyes sparkled even in the many days facing her illness.

While they did not have any children of their own, June and her husband adopted their many nieces and nephews and any other child that came into their lives. She involved them in card games, cooking, crafts or gardening and was always making sure they were well fed. She also gave treats to the family pets, who will miss her deeply, and treated her own pets as her children.

If the family had a get-together, it was usually at her urging, since she loved to be surrounded by family and friends. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting and was known for making Christmas stockings for the newest family members starting with her first niece and goddaughter, Teresa Moser, who was often by her side during her final days.

June was preceded in death by her father; her husband; infant brother Leroy Latsha; brothers-in-law William Moser and Charles Kissinger; and nephew Lt. Travis Moser.

She is survived by her mother Catherine R. (Baker) Lahr and sister Dianna Kissinger, both of Elizabethville, Penn.; mother-in-law Cecelia Moser; brothers-in-law Chris Moser and wife Pam and Larry Moser and sisters-in-law Judy Moser and Nancy Moser, all of Martin City; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and godchildren. Her very special sister-in-law, Pam Moser, stayed with her day and night so she would not have to face her illness alone.

June had many special friends, including Col. Mary Marshall, who helped bring a smile back to her face when she was first admitted to the hospital, and Jill Demoret, who both visited her in Kalispell and went out of her way to assist her when June and Pam arrived in Seattle in search of the cure that was not to be. 

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Martin City Volunteer Fire Department or St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls.

A Mass of the Resurrection was held Sept. 11, 2012, at St. Richard’s Catholic Church. Burial took place at St. Richard’s Catholic Cemetery.