Brenda Joan Croucher Moderie

Brenda Joan Croucher Moderie took her trip join the Lord on the afternoon of Dec. 18, 2021. Brenda courageously fought for each breath of her life over a period of several years due to pulmonary hypertension.

She was born June 18, 1964, in Libby to Frank and Joan Croucher along with her twin brother, Bret. Brenda’s family moved to Troy when construction on the Libby Dam project began in 1968. She attended Troy schools and graduated in 1982. Later, as a single mother, she furthered her education and received her degree in accounting from the University of Montana.

Brenda raised two children of her own. Thymer Scott Croucher was born in 1988 and Ferdinand Po joined them in 1989. Brenda worked at various jobs throughout the ’90s and met an array of interesting people while raising her children. Her experiences throughout these years shaped her character and had a profound effect on the remaining years of her life. Early in the new century, Brenda met the love of her life, Nicholas Moderie. He would be as big as she was small. Together, they would share family, grandchildren and beautiful memories.

Brenda was an avid cook and loved preparing food for her family. She also knitted and made gifts for family as well. But it was the big family she came from and the even bigger family she married into that would dominate her life. She loved deeply and from the heart. She loved being with her “Moderies” and it was always evident that she was a cherished member of their enormous family. She and Nick would engage in activities from camping to cruising on ships to unforgettable tailgate parties at the home stadium of her beloved Montana Grizzlies.

Holidays would often be a whirlwind of logistics of getting to family events. Brenda had a consummate love for cribbage and welcomed a game at any moment without prejudice. She was a formidable foe and relished the win! The center of children's attention at so many family gatherings, she listened intently to them and would play any game under the sun with them. She was the quintessential favorite auntie.

Brenda would say that she was too small to do big things. But the exact opposite was always the truth. Her sometimes Herculean strength would shine in the form of sincere love, determination, intent and resilience. Brenda was an unending source of unconditional love, understanding, compassion and acceptance to everyone who met her.

Her amazing spirit and soul touched us all and left all of us better for it, whether it be in caring for her home and family or her little gardens that raised magical amounts of produce or just sitting with friends in good conversation or, her favorite thing of all, spending time with her grandchildren and many nieces and nephews that each filled a very special place in her heart. It is impossible to understand how we will fill this void.

Brenda was preceded in death by both her parents, Francis Edward Croucher in 2004 and Frances Joan Applegate Croucher in 2006, as well as her brother, Steven Roy Croucher, in 1992.

Brenda is survived by her husband, Nicolas Roy Moderie of Missoula; her children, Thymer Scott Croucher and Ferdinand Po; bonus children, Kimberly Moderie and Derek Moderie; grandchildren, Jayden Mitchell, Patience Mitchell, Lincoln Harris, Quinnton Wilson, Roman Wilson and Saylor Croucher; brothers, Ed Croucher of Eureka, Charlie Croucher of Libby, Bob Croucher of Troy and Bret Croucher of Libby; sister, Lana Managhan of Troy; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Don Moderie, Ken and Marianne Moderie, Ron and Cheryl Moderie, (preceded by Bill and Lorelei Moderie), Betty Jo and Jim Baker, Dan and Mary Moderie, Michael Moderie, Charles Moderie, Joseph Moderie, Marianne McCracken, John Moderie, Bill and Nancy Haniszewski, Marchita and Herschel Mays; and nieces and nephews too numerous to list.

Services will be held at Garden City Mortuary in Missoula at 1 p.m., Dec. 29, with a viewing beginning at 11 a.m. A reception will follow the services.

A graveside service will be held in Libby at 1 p.m., Dec. 31 at the City of Libby Cemetery with a reception following at a location to be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Montana Bank to support Brenda's funeral expenses. An account is available under the names of either Kim or Derek Moderie.