If anyone was wondering, it takes 105 days…..

On July 9, 2021, surrounded by her 5 children and listening to her favorite Nat King Cole songs, Lois Marie Bennie comfortably and peacefully rejoined her beloved husband Bob.

In the midst of a winter storm, and unable to get to the local hospital, Lois Marie Gendle was born in her grandmothers' farmhouse in St. Anthony, Idaho on February 5 ^th , 1934. Lois was the oldest of three blessings born to Edward and Leylia (Burnside) Gendle as her brothers Ed and Richard soon filled out the Gendle family. Mom fondly reminisced about her early years on the Idaho farm homestead crediting those early years with providing her the work ethic that would define her amazing life.

A year after landing in Normandy on D-Day, Mom's father proudly returned from serving his country during WWII. Soon after, the Gendles would relocate their young family to Butte, Mt. At the age of 11, and but for a few years in California, Mom would spend the rest of her life living and loving Butte.

Upon arriving in Butte, the Gendle's purchased a home on Adams Ave on "the flats". Mom attended St Ann's catholic school through the 8 ^th grade and then to Butte High where the shy farm girl would thrive. She loved all the clubs and social activities that Butte High offered but was naturally drawn to and loved being a twirler on the Butte High Band and Twirling Corp. Her senior year, she was honored to help lead the team as a Majorette. However, it was her sophomore year as a twirler when she claimed her biggest prize after catching the eye of an older football player named Bob Bennie. At the age of 15, the twirling majorette began dating the football star which was the beginning of a 72-year love affair.

After graduating in 1952, Mom began working a split shift at the phone company. Her work ethic learned from her early years in Idaho proved very valuable later on.

On August 20 ^th , 1955, after her high school sweetheart returned from serving in Korea, Lois took Bob Bennie as her beloved husband and lifelong partner. The newlyweds briefly moved to California, where their first child Ann Lynn was born, however upon experiencing her first northern California earthquake, Mom insisted on moving back to Montana. Continuing her life of family dedication and selfless acts, Mom again took up employment to help support her young family as Dad finished his education at the U of M. Upon graduation, Dad took a job as a junior accountant at the Montana Power Company in Butte. Moving back into her childhood home on Adams Ave, Mom and Dad focused on increasing their clan which would ultimately total 5.

Mom's dedication to family and selflessness continued as she filled her home with love and support. As a team, there was nothing she and Dad would not take on together.  Together they raised 5 kids, aided all of us with our college education and physically built a loving home from which they enjoyed for almost 40 years. Most of all, they taught us the value of family, faith and hard work. Mom, took tremendous pride knowing she helped contribute to the college education of every member of the family, including Dad. She often mentioned this as their most proud accomplishment.

Beyond her family, she and Dad enjoyed a very active social life. She was a proud member of the Butte Junior League and relished in her involvement in the annual follies show. Mom was also proud of her work with PEO and was active in the community as a Girl Scout leader, PTA president and, when it was necessary, a roofer for Habitat for Humanity. When her kids were grown, Mom began working at J&J Floral as a floral designer. For the better part of a decade, Mom loved going to "work". She absolutely adored arranging flowers and creating beautiful gifts with her hands, and mostly, she cherished the ladies she worked with. Her work at J&J Floral was truly a labor of love.

Mom was very active and enjoyed playing tennis with Charlie and Jan, skiing with the entire family, and had an unbelievable garden. Growing strawberries in Butte is quite an achievement but Mom found a way to do it.

Mom was a uniquely, wonderful woman. She made EVERYTHING special. She made her kids feel special, she worked hard to make every holiday special, every birthday was special, and every meal that she made was created with love. Mom was the kind of woman who in the matter of hours would lovingly get the kids off to school, go help Dad pour a concrete slab, then rush home to wash the cement off and prepare dinner for her family. She was a talented, caring, gifted, beautiful woman!

She and Dad were truly blessed with great friends, too many to mention. However, we wanted to specifically thank Jan Gilder and her late husband Charlie for the lifelong memories our families shared together. Jan was truly the sister our mother never had.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents Leylia and Edward Gendle, beloved brother Ed, her dear niece and god-daughter Sheila Sullivan Cutler and son-in law Robert Rivers. Also beloved in-laws Katherine and Timothy Duggan, sisters in-law Mary Lou Bennie Sweeney and Caryl Bennie Sullivan. And, most recently by her lifelong husband, loving partner, and work teammate Bob.

Mom's loss will be mourned by her loving children; Ann (Darryl) Cutler, Joan Bennie, Barb (Mark) Russell, Rob (Karen) Bennie and Tish Poling (Bob Goehrke). Bob and Lois's union also enjoys 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Dick, sister in-law Phyllis Gendle and many nieces and nephews who were all so precious to her.

Finally, in case you were wondering, it takes 105 days to die of a broken heart. After 72 years of a fairy tale love affair and lifelong partnership, it took just 105 days after Dad's passing for Mom to follow him. During Mom's illness for the past few years, she lived in a fog and Dad was her lighthouse. She was comfortable and safe as long as Dad was nearby. For the past 105 days, Mom's ship had been lost… searching for her safety. Finally, she has once again found her lighthouse and has followed it… once again they are together.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday July 14, 2021 at Holy Spirit Church.  Visitation will start at 9:00am in the Church.

Please, in lieu of flowers, our mother would have been honored by a donation to Our Lady of the Rockies or the Katherine Duggan Memorial Endowment c/o Butte Central Education Foundation, and The Butte Rescue Mission.