One Nation, Under God

Grace A. Lucas

MALTA - Grace A. Lucas, a retired teacher, died April 6, 2018, at Great Falls following a lengthy illness.

She was born March 10, 1934, at Fairfield, Mont., to Harold and Elizabeth (Cook) Norris. Grace and her seven siblings were raised at the Norris family homestead, on the Ashuelot Bench. After high school, she went to Northern Montana College and first earned an Associate Degree in teaching before receiving her Bachelor's of Education and a Master's Degree in Education. Grace married LeRoy Lucas June 19, 1954, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Fort Shaw. They raised a family of four children together. In addition to raising her children, Grace taught grade school for over 30 years in Havre and Malta, before retiring from Malta Schools in 1995. She enjoyed gardening, reading, and jigsaw puzzles. Often Grace could be seen walking along the streets of Malta to get her exercise, going at least one mile a day. She worked at the Phillips County Fair for over 20 years and took or sold tickets for Malta High School sporting events until recently. She was a member of, and an officer for the Malta Dirt Daubers Garden Club, Montana State Garden Club, Alpha Zeta, Delta Kappa Gamma, Malta Book Club, and the Phillips County Council on Aging. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Malta.

Grace is survived by her children, Chuck of Whitehall, Jack (Elaine) of Alexandria, Va., Susan Wiltse of Malta, and Cheryl of Great Falls; grandchildren Jason Lucas of Mooresville, Ind., Justin (Mindy) Lucas of Whitewater, James Lucas of Billings, Kaylyn Lucas of Whitehall, Anthony Wiltse of Denver, Michael Wiltse of Billings, Jennifer (Phil) Nelson of Broadus, Timothy (Patience) Wiltse of Malta, and Patrick Lucas of Arlington, Va. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren; sisters Fern (Dick) Tronstad of Great Falls, Alice Nickoloff of Billings, Mary (Jack) McLeslie of Spokane, Gladys (Dennis) Bymaster of Havre; brother Bill Norris of Fort Shaw; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy, her parents, sisters Wilma (Norman) Alfson and Dorothy Norris, daughter-in-law Ann (Johannesen) Lucas, several nieces, and nephews.

The family will receive friends at 7 p.m., Sunday, April 15, at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Monday, April 16, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. Condolences to the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

 

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