Marjorie Ruth Beck Asselstine, 87

Marjorie Ruth Beck Asselstine, 87, passed away on Friday, June 30, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

She was born on March 30, 1919, in Big Sandy to Harry A. and Jeannette (Brown) Beck. Marjorie moved with her family to Kalispell in 1923, where her dad was offered a job by Mr. Conrad as a caretaker of the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. She had wonderful memories of growing up there and often said that when she died, it would be like going home again.

Marjorie worked as a salesperson most of her life, starting with F.W. Woolworth Co., Buttreys Department Store, and finally at Montgomery Wards Co.

During World War II, she worked in the shipyards at Vancouver, Wash., while her husband, Rudy Aune, served in the Air Force in England. When he returned from the military, they moved back to Kalispell, where they made their home until he passed in 1976. They had two children, David, who passed away in 1982, and Marianna Ward, who resides in Kalispell.

In 1979, Marjorie married Cliff Asselstine. They did a lot of traveling to the Pearl Harbor survivors conventions in Hawaii, Texas, Oregon, etc. He passed away in June of 2000.

Marjorie, who worked as a salesperson, loved meeting and talking with people and helping them with their purchases. Her other interests were reading, sewing and most of all, working in her flower and vegetable gardens.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Warren and Kenneth Beck.

Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Marianna Ward, of Kalispell; one brother, Bob Beck and his wife, Joan, of Columbia Falls; one sister, Dorothy Peterson of Las Vegas; three grandsons, David Lee and Jerry Aune, both of Portland, and Joe Aune of Ohio; one granddaughter, Linda Ward of Cottonwood, Ariz.; two great-granddaughters, Kimberly Ward-Duong and Elizabeth Aune; one stepdaughter, Shan Corban and her husband, Ron, of Bigfork; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marjorie had been living at the Immanuel Lutheran Home since 2005. The staff were all so loving and caring to her and made her feel like family. They liked to call her "grandma." She made friends with several of the residents.

Graveside urn burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 7, at C.E. Conrad Cemetery.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.