PORTLAND, Ore. -- Glowdena "Billie" Finnigan, 87, of Portland passed away Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Gresham, Ore.
She was born Nov. 14, 1926, in Mesler, Mo., to Archie and Nona Baker. She met and married William Coyle Finnigan in Oakland, Calif., during World War II.
After the war and Bill's time in the service, they moved to Forest Grove, Ore., where Bill went to school and became a teacher. After teaching in Oregon a couple of years, they moved to Noxon, Mont., where Bill had grown up.
They moved onto the homestead and cared for his folks, and Bill began teaching in Noxon. Billie was a stay-at-home mom several years, and then worked at a post office until she retired. After retiring, they spent winters in Missouri and summers in Montana.
Billie was very hospitable and would welcome folks who came to visit with coffee and a pastry, or a meal if it was that time of day. She was very involved in researching history to have a historical society in Noxon, and she worked to have a city park.
She is survived by a daughter, Carmon (Tommy) Groff; a son-in-law, Thymios Lambrou; eight grandchildren, Deborah (Ken) Piper, Mark (Shelly) Groff, Gary (Kristi) Groff, Joy Smith, Tommy (Nicole) Groff Jr., Keri (Rick) Clark, Kevin McCallum and Michael McCallum; and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Mary Baker; a daughter, Becky; and a son-in-law, Dick McCallum.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. MST Saturday at Noxon United Methodist Church, with Tommy Groff officiating. Interment will be in Noxon Cemetery.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint, Idaho, is handling the arrangements.
Please visit Billie's online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.
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