Ione Coldwell

Funeral Service for Ione G. Coldwell, 93, of Baker, MT will be at 11:00 a. m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at American Lutheran Church in Baker with Pastors Bruce and Reba Kolasch officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in Bonnievale Cemetery at Baker. Visitation will be 1:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. on Tuesday, July 15th at Stevenson funeral Home in Baker. Ione Gwenette Johnson Coldwell went to be with the Lord early Sunday morning on July 13, 2008, at the Fallon Medical Complex Nursing Home. She was born on July 20, 1914, the first of ten children born to Roy and Hattie (Egtvet) Johnson on the Johnson homestead south of Baker. Being the oldest of ten, Ione spent much of her time helping to care for her younger siblings. She attended Chimney Creek School through eighth grade, and then moved to Baker where she worked part time and graduated from Baker High School in 1933. During this time, Ione and her dad played for country dances; she on the piano and he the violin. On June 25, 1935, she married Russell Coldwell. Ione and Russell lived near and in Baker until the summer of 1943, when they moved to Deer Lodge, where Russell worked on the railroad until the end of World War II. They then returned to Baker until 1957, when Russell went to work for the State of Montana as a brand inspector in Havre. The next 20 years were spent in Havre and Glasgow until Russell?s retirement in 1977. During this time, she and Russell raised their family and welcomed six grandchildren. Ione also found time to work part time in a hardware store and a fabric store. Upon Russell?s retirement, they moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona, to be near their daughter, Kay, and her family. After being away from their beloved Montana for ten years, they returned to Baker in 1986 to be near family and friends. After Russell passed away in 1997, Ione lived in their home in Baker for several years before moving to Quality Personal Care. She spent her remaining years there, as well as time with her daughter and son-in-law in Arizona, and finally at the Fallon Medical Complex Nursing Home. Ione was a dedicated wife and mother. Her first priority was caring for her children and her home. She was an excellent seamstress and loved to crochet and do crossword puzzles. She was an avid reader and loved playing cards and games. She was especially hard to beat at Scrabble. She is survived by a daughter, Kay (David) Gill of Sierra Vista, AZ; sons, Bob (Carren) of Troy; and Reid of Glasgow; six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sisters, Montie Sipma of Baker; Joy (Merle) Hayden of Baker; Mary Lou Wells of Colorado Springs; and Betty Jo Johnson of Spokane. Ione was preceded in death by her husband, Russell, in 1997. Also preceding her were two sons, Kelly and Terry; brothers, Earl Johnson, Lloyd ?Bud? Johnson and Don Johnson; and sisters, Helen Tenant and Irene Wiman. Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: July 16, 2008
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Wednesday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT.