Eloise Imogene Montgomery, 88, formerly of Libby

Our beloved “Grandma Imo” passed away peacefully Oct. 30, 2012, at her Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, home surrounded by her loving family. 

The youngest of eight children, Imogene was born in Holdrege, Neb., on Oct.  10, 1924, to Lawrence and Kate Erickson. 

“Imo” as she is known by friends and family, was raised in Central City, Neb., where she met and married John M. Montgomery in 1942. 

While John went to fly the China-Burma hump during World War II, Imo worked at an airplane parts manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kan.  In 1951, John, Imo and their two daughters, Connie and Marcia, moved to Washington.  She worked for various government agencies as an office manager and purchasing agent.  

A son, Johnny, was born while the family lived in Royal Slope, Wash.  In 1967, John and Imo moved to Libby where John worked as an engineer on the Libby Dam and Imo was employed with the Libby School District and the U.S. Forest Service.  

In 1977, the Montgomery family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.   Imo continued working for the Forest Service as a purchasing agent, retiring in 1983. 

Imo was a distinguished member of the Coeur d’Alene Chapter BF of PEO.  She was an avid and talented golfer, a member of a weekly bridge club, as well as a member of various “morning coffee clubs” and St. Margaret’s Guild of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.  

She enjoyed keeping a beautiful garden and back yard and always kept her feeders full for the birds and the occasional squirrel.  

Imogene was world famous for her Swedish crepe pancakes and peach pies. Imo was also a volunteer at the Kootenai Cancer Center and Hospice of North Idaho.

Imogene will be remembered as a wonderful wife, a caring and compassionate mother and grandmother, and a selfless and giving friend.  

She loved to socialize with everyone and had kind words for all. She has taught many people the value of patience and love. 

These traits define her legacy as a person. Grandma Imo never believed in having a bad day and was an eternal optimist in every aspect of her life. She had an uncanny ability to find the good in every situation and every person that she met. 

Imogene is survived by her daughter Marcia Flaten and husband Stan of Pasco, Wash.; son John and wife Barbara of St. Maries, Idaho; brother Gerald Erickson and wife Genelle of San Clemente, Calif.; eight grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, great- great- grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

She is preceded in death by her husband John, daughter Connie Henjum, great-grandson Mason Sjostrom; four brothers Warren, Clayton, Leland and Don; and two sisters, Elaine and Lenore. 

A memorial service for Imo will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. 

We love you and will miss your smile, laughter and loving companionship. 

Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, is entrusted with the care of final arrangements. 

Please visit Imogene’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com