Mary Ellen Halphide, 87, of Great Falls, at peace with her Lord, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at a local care facility surrounded by her beloved daughters. A Funeral Service will take place at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 332 Riverview 3 W, on Friday, December 5 at 11:00 a.m. with Burial to follow at Highland Cemetery

Mary Ellen was born August 12, 1930 in Minneapolis, MN at Swedish Hospital to Carl & Evelyn Lundahl. She attended St. Louis Park High School in Minnesota and later attended and graduated from the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing. Fresh from nursing school she and her best friend took the train to California and moved to San Bernardino. There, she spent her time working for the Red Cross, collecting blood at Edwards Air Force Base which is where she met her handsome fighter pilot Mark Halphide. They were married March 19, 1953 and spent 43 wonderful years together, before his untimely passing in 1994.

She was a strong woman with an adventurous spirit. She bravely saw her husband throughout two wars. As a military wife, she would move her family around many times. She even had to move their three daughters to Japan, where they lived for three years. She also got to live in Alabama, Texas, and finally Montana where Mark retired. She loved her Arizona home where she and Mark would spend their winters and where they entertained all their sun-loving family & friends.

Mary was a good Christian woman who always had a smile and never had an unkind word about anything. Her faith was strong and never faltered. She was a long time founding member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She loved her five grandchildren and never missed out on any of their sporting events. She was thrilled to have been blessed with eight great-grandchildren. Mary Ellen loved the beauty of nature, from her beloved desert of Arizona to the Rocky Mountains. She was always the best cook, loved camping and watching as many sunsets as she could. She had many hobbies including crafting, reading, singing, puzzles, and sewing. But most of all she loved maintaining her flower garden.

She is survived in death by her daughters, Bonnie (Richard) Jensen, Debbie (Randy) Aafedt, Cheryl Kirkendall; grandchildren, Brent & Richie Jensen, Adrianna Nicola, Kelsey Peters, Taylor Kirkendall; great-grandchildren, Brynley, Payton, Brodie, & Jax, Marley & Kenedie, Hunter & Hayley and one on the way. 

Mary was preceded in passing by her husband Mark Halphide and parents Carl & Evelyn Lundahl.

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