Loretta Johnstone

Funeral Service for Loretta F. Johnstone, 81, of Ekalaka will be 1:00 p. m. , Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Burial will follow in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery in Ekalaka. Visitation will be Monday from 1:00 p. m. ? 6:00 p. m. , January 14, 2008 at the Stevenson Funeral Home and will continue on Tuesday, from 9:00 a. m. until one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Loretta passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at the Dahl Memorial Nursing Home in Ekalaka. Loretta was born on April 18, 1926 the ninth child of Calvin and Blanche (Newton) Pierce in Carter County. Because Loretta was the baby of nine siblings she was given the name of Peewee, this nickname stayed with her all of her life. The family did shorten it to just ?Pete? as time went on. Pete grew up and attended country school and later town school in Ekalaka. She worked as a waitress at various restaurants in Ekalaka, Baker and Miles City during her younger years. On a dare from her brother-in-law, Pete began corresponding with Albert Johnstone and that dare was a good one. Pete was married to Albert W. ?Bill? Johnstone on May 11, 1946 in Baker, Montana. Together they ranched and raised their family 20 miles SW of Ekalaka on Spring Creek. Pete enjoyed embroidery, going to country dances and visiting with and helping the neighbors. She especially loved and enjoyed her children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Pete was a member of the Spring Creek Ladies Club and enjoyed the activities. In 1990 they retired from the ranch and moved into Ekalaka where they have made their home since. Survivors include, her husband, Bill Johnstone; a daughter, Margie (Tom) Blair; a son, Jim (Lois) Johnstone; a brother, Floyd (June) Pierce, all of Ekalaka; a sister, Laura Webster, Miles City; five grandchildren, Barry (Sheila) Blair, Ekalaka, Justin (Kris) Johnstone, Laurel, MT, Deann (Craig) Miller, Miles City, Dee Johnstone, Bridgeport, TX and Brandi Jo Johnstone, Miles City; four step-grandchildren, Vicki (Randy) Fix, Ekalaka, Delbert (Regina) Jardee, Killdeer, ND, Dean (Melissa) Jardee, Great Falls, MT, and Glen Jardee, Talkeetna, AL; six great-grandchildren, Thomas, Hadleigh, Tyree, Talon, Tristen and Tucker; and six step-great-grandchildren, Kahla, Bent Tiana, Kathryn, Addy and William. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, R. D and Adelbert; four sisters, Alice Brewer, Flora Belle Hobbs, Harriet Plummer and Marguerite Anderson. Memorials may be given to the Dahl Memorial Nursing Home or to a charity of your choice.


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Burial Date: January 15, 2008
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday, Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT