Arvelva Blanche (Howell) Hoyt was born July 8, 1915, at Columbia Falls, the fifth of 11 children born to Elmer C. and Minnie M. (Johnston) Howell.
She passed away with her daughter Barbara and niece Mary, whom she considered a second daughter, by her side on April 3, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, at the age of 98.
Her grandparents were early settlers in the Deer Park community southeast of Columbia Falls. Reuben S. Johnston arrived from the Gallatin Valley in 1884, and Henry H. Howell came from Illinois in 1894. Blanche and nine of her siblings attended Deer Park School and she attended Flathead County High School.
She went to Big Arm to help her older sister Della and met Edward E. Hoyt. They were married Dec. 9, 1933. They had two children, Ross and Barbara. They divorced in 1972. In 1969, Blanche and her 13-year-old niece Mary Johns moved to Kalispell to live with her daughter. She attended drivers' education classes at Flathead Valley Community College and obtained her driver's license at age 54. She got a job as a nurse's aide at the Flathead County Nursing Home where she worked until retiring in 1978.
Blanche enjoyed crossword puzzles, growing flowers and strawberries. She loved children, dancing, the color red, her departed dog Mini and especially family gatherings. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding her family and friends.
She was pre-deceased by her parents; brothers, Mern, Ross, Leonard and Walter; sisters, Della Stalcup, Ruby Howard, Shirley Howell (at 4 and a half years) and Jean Johns; her grandson, Christopher L. Hoyt; and special nephew, Joe H. Johns.
She is survived by her children, Ross and wife, Darline Hoyt, of Big Arm; daughter, Barbara Hoyt of Kalispell; sisters, Iva Mae Stryker of Columbia Falls and Jessie Wunderlich of Valier; grandson, Tom Hoyt of Ronan; granddaughter, Tammy McGill-Hoyt of Pennsylvania; great-grandsons, Traven Hoyt, attending Montana State University at Bozeman, Kellen Hoyt, attending Dawson Community College in Glendive, and Morgen Hoyt of Polson. She is also survived by her special niece, Mary and husband Mike Foster of Missoula and their children, whom she considered her grandchildren, Lacey and Carl Mattson and their children, Nolan and Evan of Beaverton, Ore., Brad Foster of Bellevue, Wash., and Sean Foster, attending MSU Bozeman; her special nephew, Allen Johns and wife Stephanie of Deer Lodge and their children, who knew her as "Grandma Blanche," Candace and Mike Sermon, and son Baylen of Buhl, Idaho, Courtney and Wes Spear of Arlington, Wash., and Colton Johns of Deer Lodge; special nieces, Una Rose and David Graham and family of Polson, Myrna Teskey of Columbia Falls, Floy Baker of Whitefish and Lynne Boyle of Kalispell, who visited her often; and also her dear sister-in-law, Bonnie and Hoyt Kirsch, and children, Gina Johnson and Kevin Kirsch of Ronan. She is also survived by additional nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Blanche will be sadly missed but forever in our hearts. Life is but a moment in the infinity of time, but what a precious moment to those who love and care.
There will be a family gathering to celebrate Blanche's life in July at Big Arm.
Donations in her honor may be given to the charity of choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arvelva Hoyt, please visit our flower store.
She passed away with her daughter Barbara and niece Mary, whom she considered a second daughter, by her side on April 3, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, at the age of 98.
Her grandparents were early settlers in the Deer Park community southeast of Columbia Falls. Reuben S. Johnston arrived from the Gallatin Valley in 1884, and Henry H. Howell came from Illinois in 1894. Blanche and nine of her siblings attended Deer Park School and she attended Flathead County High School.
She went to Big Arm to help her older sister Della and met Edward E. Hoyt. They were married Dec. 9, 1933. They had two children, Ross and Barbara. They divorced in 1972. In 1969, Blanche and her 13-year-old niece Mary Johns moved to Kalispell to live with her daughter. She attended drivers' education classes at Flathead Valley Community College and obtained her driver's license at age 54. She got a job as a nurse's aide at the Flathead County Nursing Home where she worked until retiring in 1978.
Blanche enjoyed crossword puzzles, growing flowers and strawberries. She loved children, dancing, the color red, her departed dog Mini and especially family gatherings. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding her family and friends.
She was pre-deceased by her parents; brothers, Mern, Ross, Leonard and Walter; sisters, Della Stalcup, Ruby Howard, Shirley Howell (at 4 and a half years) and Jean Johns; her grandson, Christopher L. Hoyt; and special nephew, Joe H. Johns.
She is survived by her children, Ross and wife, Darline Hoyt, of Big Arm; daughter, Barbara Hoyt of Kalispell; sisters, Iva Mae Stryker of Columbia Falls and Jessie Wunderlich of Valier; grandson, Tom Hoyt of Ronan; granddaughter, Tammy McGill-Hoyt of Pennsylvania; great-grandsons, Traven Hoyt, attending Montana State University at Bozeman, Kellen Hoyt, attending Dawson Community College in Glendive, and Morgen Hoyt of Polson. She is also survived by her special niece, Mary and husband Mike Foster of Missoula and their children, whom she considered her grandchildren, Lacey and Carl Mattson and their children, Nolan and Evan of Beaverton, Ore., Brad Foster of Bellevue, Wash., and Sean Foster, attending MSU Bozeman; her special nephew, Allen Johns and wife Stephanie of Deer Lodge and their children, who knew her as "Grandma Blanche," Candace and Mike Sermon, and son Baylen of Buhl, Idaho, Courtney and Wes Spear of Arlington, Wash., and Colton Johns of Deer Lodge; special nieces, Una Rose and David Graham and family of Polson, Myrna Teskey of Columbia Falls, Floy Baker of Whitefish and Lynne Boyle of Kalispell, who visited her often; and also her dear sister-in-law, Bonnie and Hoyt Kirsch, and children, Gina Johnson and Kevin Kirsch of Ronan. She is also survived by additional nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Blanche will be sadly missed but forever in our hearts. Life is but a moment in the infinity of time, but what a precious moment to those who love and care.
There will be a family gathering to celebrate Blanche's life in July at Big Arm.
Donations in her honor may be given to the charity of choice.