Anna Lee Cowan

On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, our beloved, Anna Lee Cowan, 81, of Polson, passed away at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. Anna Lee was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1929, to Rose Ashley and Victor Dupuis. Anna Lee was the youngest member of the family of nine children. Anna Lee was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Except for the period when she was away at college, Anna Lee was a lifelong resident of the Flathead Reservation. She graduated from Polson High School and went on to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. To help with her college expenses, she stayed at the Haskell Institute and worked for Haskell for her room and board while pursing her degree in Interior Design and Fine Arts. Anna Lee worked at her profession for a year in Kansas City, MO.

Anna Lee married Kenneth Bordeaux while she was in Kansas, but after that marriage ended she returned home to be with her parents and her son, Roger.

When she returned home, she worked in several jobs. She was a waitress, a telephone operator, a school secretary, and floor shop sales clerk. She was a cook and co-manager of Polson’s Mint Café. She worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Light Office in Polson. In 1967, she met and married Lee Cowan who she said was the exciting person in her life. After 17 years of marriage, Lee passed away in 1984. Later, she worked for the Bureau if Indian Affairs in the Lands Department with land ownership and the probate of trust estates for individual Indian landowners. She said that the job with the BIA was the most interesting job she ever had. She retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in 1987.

Anna Lee was preceded in death by her parents in 1955 and 1957.  Her brothers, Albert, Floyd, Louis, Jim, and Mannie Dupuis and her sisters, Ivy Peratrovich, Mabel Jones, and Rose Evans, also preceded her in death, as well as one niece and five nephews.

She leaves behind three very special people; her son, Roger Bordeaux of Polson, her stepdaughter, Karen Cowan of Spokane, WA, and her close companion and sister-in-law, Lois Dupuis.

Anna Lee was always glad to visit with her nieces and nephews whenever the stopped by. She believed that they were all special to her. She is survived by 18 of her nieces and nephews who will always remember her gracious and gentle disposition, her sense of humor, and cheerful smile. Anna Lee was also thankful for her many friends.

The family is deeply appreciative for the loving care and vigilance given to Anna Lee by nieces, Anita Dupuis and Dorene Vallee. A deep thank you is extended for the kindness and care given to Anna Lee over the past several months by her personal caregivers, Jamie and Dacia. The family also wishes to extend appreciation for the care and kindness given to Anna Lee and family members by the staff at St. Patrick’s Hospital as well as the Hospice team.

Visitation for friends and family will begin on Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 9:00AM until 5:00PM at the Grogan Funeral Home, 101 Sixth Ave. E., Polson. Mrs. Cowan’s body will then be moved to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Polson, at 5:00PM on Thursday. A vigil service will begin at 7:00PM at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church on Friday, August 27 at 10:00AM with Rev. James Connor officiating. Interment will follow at the Ronan Cemetery where she will rest in peace beside her beloved husband, Lee Cowan.

Pallbearers are Donnie Cline, Joe Wheeler, Dick Burland, Virgil Dupuis, Greg Dupuis, and Kenny Hunter.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Cowan’s family.