Mary Ileen Pekovitch

MALTA- Mary Ileen Pekovitch 87, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at Hi-Line Retirement Center with her family by her side.

Viewing will be at Kirkwood Memorial Chapel on Thursday, January 18 from noon until 6:30 p.m. The sharing of memories and stories with the family will begin at 7 p.m. at the Tin Cup. Funeral Mass will be held in Saco, Mont., at St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church at 10 a.m. with interment to follow at Grandview Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Ileen was born July 14th, 1930 in Malta Mont., to Charlie & Mary Copple. She attended school at Bowdoin through the 8th grade. She married Edward Pekovitch on December 22nd, 1949 and of this union had 6 children; Marilyn, Florence, Vivian, Edmond, Walter, and Marcia.

In 1970 her husband passed away and Ileen worked several different jobs to support her family including working at Sleeping Buffalo for several years. She cooked at the Saco Café, cleaned houses, and was one of the first women in the area to use the methods of Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transplants while working on the Darrel Menge Ranch.

She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and enjoyed being a member of Saco's TOPS Club.

Ileen is survived by her children: Vivian (Bill) Ditmer of Grass Range, Mont; Edmond (Loy) Pekovitch of Helena Mont .; Walter (Lona) Pekovitch of Malta; and Marcia (Rick) Pedersen of Nashua, Mont; two brothers Charlie Copple of Malta and William Copple of Saco .; 20 Grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, husband, brother David, sister Margaret, daughters Marilyn and Florence, an infant son Edward and a great-grandchild.