Anna Rosalie (Ann) Benda

Anna Rosalie (Ann) Benda, 91, died on March 22, 2013 peacefully at home surrounded by friends and family.

No formal service will be held per her request. A celebration of life is at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 29 at 565 Spokane Ave., in Whitefish.

Ann was born on Dec. 21, 1921, the only daughter of Frank and Mary Benda, in Iona, Minn. She resided there until her late teenage years, when she went to St. Marys for a summer job in Glacier Park, never returning to Minnesota. She moved to Belton where her brothers, Franky and Arthur reside with their families.

In the mid 1940s after the death of her father, Ann and her mother moved to Whitefish.

Ann was an independent, thoughtful, gracious woman who will be remembered for her smile, humor, love of children and animals.

She enjoyed outdoor gardening and her many house plants, especially African violets, with sometimes 35-40 plants in bloom. She also enjoyed knitting. Family and friends enjoyed the warmth of her many sweaters, hats and mittens.

Even though home bound in later years, she was community oriented by knitting hats and gloves for RSVP and hats for all newborns when going home from the hospital.

She is survived by her special niece Sherri, other nieces and nephews, and special friends who became her extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, sisters-in-law, and two nephews.

Memorials may be sent to St. Labre Indian School at Ashland (www.stlabre.org,) Humane Society of Northwest Montana, or Meals on Wheels of Whitefish.