Marjorie Valerie Plank
Marge Plank, 93, relocated to Heaven on Monday, November 30, 2009 at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility in Ronan, MT.
Our mother and beloved Grammy, vivacious and full of joy, gentle and loving, was a gift to each person she touched. We can’t think of her without a smile coming to our faces.
Marjorie Valerie Elmore was born August 17, 1916 in Ida Grove, Iowa, the daughter of William and Ethel Elmore.
Through her life, she lived from one end of the country to the other and places in between. In 1932, in Salem, Missouri, she met Paul, the love of her life. The first time she saw him she said, “I’m gonna marry that boy!”. They moved to Kalispell where she attended school, then married Paul in 1934. They lived many places in the United States, finally settling in Polson to raise their daughters.
Marge is preceded in death by her mother, Ethel Stein, brother Derrill, and her beloved husband Paul.
She is survived by her three daughters, Donna Bahm of Polson, Colleen (Blackie) Pollreisz of Polson, and Polly (Larry) Robinson of St. Ignatius; her grandchildren, Jessie Stinger, Martin (Sue) Pollreisz, Monte Bahm, Valene (Ed) Laughlin, Janalee (Chris) Ellenwood, Shane (Kimberly) Robinson, Shonna (Dodd) Elverud, Paul Blue (Christina) Robinson; 24 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren; her sisters, Clarice Kimes and Annette Gobert both of Missoula and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 4, 2009, 2:00 PM at New Life Christian Center, 1414 2nd Street W., Polson. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online by visiting www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff at Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Plank’s family.
Your never ending love, kindness, smile and infectious laugh will be greatly missed by us all. we loved you much dear Aunt Marge!
So sorry for your loss. She is dancing in heaven now. God Bless all of you.
We are blessed just knowing Marge and Paul! Marge has been a inspiration to all that have known her. She will be surely missed!! When I think of Marge, I think of her as a warm summer’s day, always smiling, always a kind word. We love you Marge!!!
Peggy and Steve Pick
I have such mixed emotions on Marge’s passing.
I’m so happy that I willl see her in Heaven some day.
Yet, I will miss her so much as she was like a role model for me as a Christian, an independent women and how to live life with laughter! I’m honored that she called me her friend.
God Bless all her family and friends, my thoughts and prayers are with you!
Glenda Neff, Polson MT
We are so sorry for your loss but thinking of Marge in Heaven, whole again, lessens the pain. We will all miss Marge but I can’t help but chuckle thinking of her walking the streets of Gold, searching for yard sales with my mom. They were true and faithful women who both had great zest for life…..Marge left a wonderful legacy through her loving and generous family. God has blessed you and will continue to do so, even in this time of sorrow!!
Much love
Amy and Al
What a lady! She will be missed by many; loved her awesome smile and quick wit. I will be thinking of all you “Plank” girls; take cae of yourselves.
Love, Donna
We are so sorry to hear of Marges passing, but know she is in a far better place. We will miss her beautiful smile and wonderful laugh. Many wonderful memories will help fill the void she leaves behind. Know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Kathie & Tom Newgard
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Marge Plank. I’ll never forget the first time I met Marge, nine years ago at New Life Christian Center. My friend (her grand daughter) Jana had invited me and my sons to attend church with her because we were looking for a new church. When we walked in Marge was there to greet us and Jana introduce us to Marge. She told her that I was a single mother with no family in Polson and Marge wrapped her arms around us and said that we were now a part of her family and to call her Grammy. From then on she always called me to check on the boys and I and treated us as if we were her own grand kids. The love that she showed to me and my children was so needed and greatly appreciated. I will miss Marge (Grammy) Plank, but I know I will see her again in Heaven. I am forever grateful to Janalee Ellenwood for introducing me to Marge and blessing me and my family with the gift of her love. God Bless, Love and Prayers Christina Pittenger
She was a great lady - we will miss her. She will be happier in heaven
So sorry to hear of your loss–I know she will be missed
So many memories of that sweet lady. Each one reminding me of her smile and soft voice. She made you feel you were just the one she wanted to see!
By reading these condolences i see that many of us had the same experience’s with Marge. What a wonderful lady! Isn’t it wonderful to hear of all the way’s she (and Paul) touched everyone’s lives. I will never forget the first time i met her at the ‘western store’ there in town. May the God of comfort be with you during this time of honoring and reflecting on her and her life. Most of you are my extended family and i have been so blessed by all of you.!!!
Love Konnie & Jack
Sorry for your loss. Marge was loved by all. She treated everyone with a hug. we will miss her.
Wanda Blankenhorn
Marty,
My memories of your grandma are distant but I remember her sweet personality. She was always so nice and engaging. You are blessed to have had such good-natured folks in your family. I’ll be thinking of you.
Bill
We are so sorry to learn of your loss. Marge will always be special to so many. We have such happy memories of her. Your comments in her obituary were so true. When we think of her, we think of her bouncing, almost dancing around with some happy thought or comment. She will certainly be misssed by all.
Sincerely,
Chuck and Norma Hammerberg
Our son Peter sends is love also.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I loved Marge so much. She was my Mom’s (Nan Mills/Godfrey) best friend in all the world. Oh would the two of them laugh when they got together, even in their later years. No distance could seperate them, they shared wonderful memories of their youth. Marge lived a good life and will be remembered with fondness. She was a great gal. You were lucky to have Marge so long. Her spirit shines on.
With Love ,
Mary Bob
I wrote our names earlier but didnt realize I could leave a message. Words cannot tell of all the good times we shared with Paul and Marge for over the last 60 years. We spent months living together in a apartment in Vegua and came out of it being even better friends. I’ve always called her the every-ready battery girl…. I’ll always remember her story about walking the four blocks from Eddies Drug store to Main Street Market with several lengths of toilet paper dragging a;ong behind her.
We spent several winters with Marg & Paul at the Spa in Las Vegas, NV. One summer we visited them at Polson. We have great memories of them. They were truly good people and I’m sure the Lord will embrace them not only because of the love that they showed others but because of their faith and sincere love of him.
Polly & family,
Remembering Marge in our prayers, and thoughts of her bring smiles.
She was a wonderful person, and I feel privileged to have known her.
Donna, Colleen, & Polly,
What a wonderful mother you had. She was blessed to have such a loving family. Exactly what she deserved!
I share in your loss.
Heather
My thoughts and prayers to each of you. What a celebration, of this wonderful woman’s life, you all must be sharing. I’m with you in spirit, just couldn’t do one more funeral this year. Many of you know I loved her, dearly. Nothing made my day, like running into Marj. She touched so many lives in so many special ways. Bless you all.
Loving your whole, entire, huge, family.
Sincerely,
Kathy Devlin and the “whole clan”
A generous contribution for our work with the lost, abandoned and homeless animals of our area has been made by Doris Putnam in loving memory of Valerie Plank.
Doris Putnam
909 W. Central Ave., Apt. 405
Missoula, MT 59801
Sincerely,
Pam Gibson, President
Mission Valley Animal Shelter
Polson, MT
What a wonderful celebration of a beautiful woman’s life at her service! Your family is a great visual of the heritage Marge and Paul left. I loved the flower bouquet!!! I will always remember Marge when I look in each of your lives…thanks for sharing her with all of us! Nothing could lift up ones spirit like her twinkling eyes and smile just before she hugged you! She will be missed!
Dear Polly,
The date was April 18, 2008 when I saw you & Larry at Salish Kootenai College during Corwin Clairmont’s ‘Governor’s Award For The Arts’ celebration.
That same afternoon I met your mother inside the art department; she was with Corwin’s mother Winnogene. The allowed me to take a close-up photograph of them together . . . it turned out beautifully!
Sincerely,
David Earl Holland
Polly,
I forgot the mention that Khelly Webb sends her love & hugs from Long Beach, California.
David Earl
Plank girls—–Just want you to know your mother gave me many smiles and she was a real GEM. Will miss her when I come back to go to church in Polson. Love to All. LeeNora Bellon Hodge—AZ
Dear family of Marge,
Was so saddened to hear of Marge’s passing but I surely know that she is now in a better place. Marge and I worked together at”Tee Pee West Wear in Polson. What a great time we had. She was a very special friend and I was so glad to see her not too long ago. She was always so fun to be around and she loved everyone. I am sure that her and Paul are enjoying their time together again.
Our Love , Prayers and thughts to all of you.
Georgia and Ron Snyder
Polly & Family
My condolenences to you and your family. Sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
Marge will be missed by all……and especially by those that were lucky enough to call her friend. All of my Family have known and loved your Mom and will retrieve so many wonderful memories, and smiles that Marge brought to us all.
From Lloyd, Dorothy, Neil, my Wife Jeanne and me we send our warmest thoughts and wishes for a flood of the great memories of life with Marge Plank.
Gary Crannell