Peggy J Whitaker

Peggy Jo (Donnell) Burton Whitaker passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 with her son Joe by her side. Visitation will be held Friday, October 25, 2013 beginning at 10 am and going until the vigil service at 7 pm at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. Funeral liturgy will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:30 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Peggy was born in Bartlesville, OK to Lewis and Annabelle Donnell, July 19, 1933. After Annabelle and Lewis divorced, Annabelle and her children moved to Montana where she married Dick Thompson. Dick became a very important part of Peggy’s life. Peggy attended Great Falls High School and graduated in 1953. After high school, Peggy worked for a telephone company and then started working for O’Connor Funeral Home. She worked there for 36 years, retiring in 2005. She married William “Bill” James Burton in 1953. Together they had three boys and four girls. Bill passed away at the young age of 38 in July of 1966, leaving Peggy a widow with seven children; the youngest being only 18 months old. After Bill’s death, Peggy moved into the “projects” with her kids and worked around the clock to care for, raise, and educate her children. Through it all, Peggy was able to give her children a Catholic education at Our Lady of Lourdes, Saints Peter and Paul, and Central High School. Family and the care of her kids was her only focus. Peggy married Jack Whitaker on August 22, 1970. Jack had never been married and for him to accept the responsibility of seven children demonstrates the strong character of the man Peggy fell in love with. Jack and Peggy had a daughter and twin boys. Peggy’s family was now complete with five boys and five girls. Jack passed away January 19, 2001 and Peggy was a widow for a second time. Her life was completely dedicated to family. She was a patriotic American of Irish and Cherokee descent, who instilled strong religious and moral values in her kids and grandkids. Peggy is survived by her brother, Bill Donnell; eight children Rick Burton, Sue (Steve) Milch, Tim (Geri) Burton, Sheila (Bruce) Kelly, Mary (Tim)Nessan, Shirley (Allen) Woods, Anna (Rob) Wienholz, and Joe Whitaker; 24 grandchildren Rikki Lee(Brendan), Kadie, Jared, Brittany( Jake), Brice, Stacey, Scott, Sara, Luke, Dillon, Katie, Annie, Sami, Jake, Jimmy, Mary, Kaleb (Alexsys), Jake, Tierney, Russell, Maggie, Charliee, Shelbee, and JT; great-grandchildren Zoe, Finnigan, Haddie, Michael, Kayden, and one more on the way; two nephews and two niece. She was preceded in death by both husbands, Bill Burton and Jack Whitaker; and two sons Billy Burton and Charlie Whitaker. In memory of Peggy the family suggests donations be made to the Great Falls Rescue Mission.