Francine Elaine Forney

Francine Elaine Forney, 92, of Great Falls, passed away April 19, 2019 at Benefis Peace Hospice  of natural causes. Services are being held at the Evergreen Memorial Garden, Friday, May 3rd at 10:00 AM, 1101 NE 112th Ave. Vancouver, WA.

Francine was born on February 13, 1927 in Hockinson, WA. to Levi Simonson and Alma Kriko in the home of her grandparents, Emma and Samuel Kriko.

After graduation from Battleground Highschool, Francine worked in Barnes Army Hospital in Vancouver until WWII ended as stenographer for the doctors. Francine met Raymond Forney at the Saturday night dances held in the Hockinson Community Center. They fell in love and were married on June 1st 1946. They moved to Montana to make their home on the family farm in the Floweree community. Their union would span 22 years, afterwards moving back again to Washington to be with her mother on the family farm. She faithfully took care of her mother until her death in 2003.

After moving back she worked in retail store merchandising as a window display designer and had a floral design business also called Franci Floral Design. Her windows garnered her high acclaim including winning a first prize new car from a 1974 national window display contest. The following year Francine won a sailboat, and then the next year a deep sea fishing rod and reel all in all beating out over 3000 other entries across the nation. She won many other prizes, including bonds and watches of high quality, just to name a few.

She worked at Hested's in Great falls, MT from 1965 – 1972 then from 1972 worked for JJ Newberry Company in Washington until it closed and she retired. After her mother’s death she moved back to Montana again to be by her daughter, Cala Habel in 2013. The high lite of that year was a trip to Israel for the two of them.

Francine was very active in her Church and she loved to design the church floral displays for every Sabbath. She was the most generous person ever, going above and beyond to give to people even to the sacrifice of her own needs.

Survivors are daughter; Cala Habel (Ed Habel) granddaughter; Myan Forney of Spokane WA, grandsons; Tye Habel (LeeAnnHabel) Cody Habel ( Karla Habel) great grandchildren ; Carys Habel,Lola Habel and Edward Jochum Habel all of Great Falls, MT.

Those who preceded Francine in death include parents; Levi Bernard Simonson and Alma Kriko, son; Bruce Forney, husband; Ray Forney

Memorial donations are suggested to Peace Hospice, Great Falls.

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