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Lucretia Ann Budak Popa

On Oct. 3, 2017 our sweet and funny Mom joined Dad and her loved ones in heaven. Mom Lucretia (Lucy) was the second oldest child of four and was born on Aug. 25, 1927. A first generation American, Lucretia was born to homesteading Romanian immigrants Mattieu and Laurentia Budak in Chelsea. Lucy graduated from Poplar High School and Northern Montana College.

Lucy pursued a medical secretary job in Struthers, Ohio where she met and married the love of her life, John C. Popa Sr. Together Lucy and John had four children, Laura, Annette, Joanne, and John Jr., and in 1955 moved to Columbia Falls where they made their home. While raising the children Lucy worked as a receptionist for 13 years for Dr. Robert Cotner DDS, a wonderful job she loved.

Lucy had many interests and loves that made her smile; love for her Budak family, for hiking, for cross country skiing, for her yard and plants, for her faith, for her friends, for her four children and spouses, and visiting and playing with her grandchildren. A most loved time was spent with her husband John in many visits to Hawaii.

Mom Lucy was preceded in death by our Dad John Sr., her mother and father, two sisters Sylvia and Mary Jane, and one brother George. Lucy is survived by her children and spouses, Laura and Bill Bishop, Annette and Bob Bjelland, Joanne and Tom Lindlof, and Jan and John Popa Jr. Mom Lucy was a fun loving grandmother of eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

We would like to extend a deep heartfelt thank you to all of her caregivers over the years, and most especially to Pat Zinke RN and her husband Ed, and their very loving caring staff at Expressions, Hidden Meadow Memory Care. The respect and dignity in the loving care for Mom Lucy in this last three years has made those at Expressions our extended family.

A Celebration of Mom Lucy’s Life, in Columbia Falls, is planned for June 2018 for family and friends. At that time Lucy and John will be interned together close their June wedding anniversary date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/donate.