Lila M Byrne

Lila Mae (Bannen) Byrne, 85, of Great Falls passed away Friday, April 24, 2015 at Peace Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by loving family and friends throughout her final days. A funeral vigil for Lila will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. A funeral liturgy will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Chapel, 2800 Central Avenue. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Lila was born April 2, 1930 in Milk River, Alberta, Canada. She was the third of four children born to Gordon and Ellen Bannen. When Lila was in the fifth grade, her family moved to Shelby and then Oilmont, MT, where she attended high school and graduated in 1948. In grade school, Lila met Patrick Byrne, who in the eighth grade said he would marry her one day. They married in Kevin, MT on November 22, 1948. While still living in Oilmont, Lila traveled each week to Great Falls and then Havre to attend college working toward a teaching degree, though she returned every weekend to be with her family. Lila and Pat eventually moved to Great Falls, where they raised their children, Judy, Pat and Rick. Lila taught at Crowe School on the Fairfield Bench for two years, while waitressing at night at Eddie’s Supper Club. She transferred to Sunnyside School in Great Falls for the next 23 years. She retired from teaching in 1986. She spent the next 28 years as a hostess on bus tours with Bob and Bernice Laird of Laird Leisure Travel, which allowed her to travel all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. In her later years, she was an active volunteer, giving her time to the Great Falls Senior Center and ushering at the Mansfield Convention Center. She danced for many years with Dudes and Dolls Square Dance Club and was a longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. She and Pat enjoyed wintering in their RV in St. George, Utah, until Pat passed away in 2000. Lila also enjoyed playing cards, such as cribbage and pinochle, as well as shuffleboard and Las Vegas rummy (though she always let her grandkids win). Family was the most important part of Lila’s life. She was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping up with their various school programs and sports events until her illness prevented it. She was the best mother, grandmother and friend you could ask for. Throughout her life, she set an example of what it means to be kind, hardworking and helpful. She blessed every place she went with beauty, and has left a legacy of grace behind. She was always a classy lady. Lila is survived by her daughter Judy Byrne of Great Falls; sons Patrick (Joyce) Byrne and Rick (Patty) Byrne of Great Falls; sister-in-law Sylvia (Brian) Henderson of Seattle, WA; grandchildren Trish Foss, Stacy (Errol) Rice, Amanda (Jason) Meeker and Tyler (Stacey) Byrne; great-grandchildren Keegan, Jori, Dylan, Valon, Isis, Lane, Danny and Cali Jo; step great-grandsons Zak and Luke; special friends Bob Laird and Larry Suek; her faithful dog Chelsea; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other dear friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Pat; brother Gordon “Sonny” Bannen; sister Eileen “Patsy” Parr; and her parents. The Byrne family extends its gratitude to Dr. Grant Harrer and the staff at the Sletten Cancer Institute and Peace Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care they provided for Lila.