Agnes Schwab

Agnes Schwab, 89, of Bozeman passed away February 7, 2012. She was born October 27, 1922 on a farm north of LaMoure, North Dakota to Matt and Eva Theisen. She was the first of four girls to be born at home following six boys. As a farm girl she experienced the terrible dust storms and fierce winter blizzards of the 1930s. At an early age she learned to cook and bake as she helped feed threshing crews around the county and assisted other farm families. When four of her older brothers were serving overseas during World War II, she, her mother and sister Milly took over the milking and other farm chores. In 1944 she and her sister Milly moved to Valley City, North Dakota where she met Joe Schwab, of Bozeman, a sailor attached to the Navy V-12 unit at State Teacher’s College (now North Dakota State, Valley City). They were married there in St. Catherine’s Catholic Church on January 22, 1945. Following the war they returned to Bozeman where Joe began working as a cabinet maker apprentice and Agnes clerked at the Wilson Company. Eventually Agnes would deliver three sons and three daughters to this marriage. Agnes was a Greeter at Resurrection Catholic Parish, a lifetime member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and a member of the Bozeman Senior Center. Since fishing was a thing of the past, her favorite hobbies were playing Bingo at the Senior Center and playing cards (Nickel Nickel, Crazy Rummy or Pinochle) wherever she could put together a game. Agnes was preceded in death by her parents, her baby sister Kathy and her six older brothers: Nick, Wilfred, Isidor, Ed, Lee and Clifford Theisen. Agnes is survived by: sons Joe (Sherry) Schwab Jr. of Bellevue, Washington, Dan (Kevin) Schwab of Tucson, Arizona and Jerry (Nancy) Schwab of Spokane, Washington; daughters Carol Townsend of Bozeman, Eileen (Mark) Matzinger of Bozeman and Rosanne Schwab of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren John (Danya) Schwab, Joe Schwab, Julia Schwab, RC (Stacy) Townsend, Terra Townsend, Eric (Miranda) Lucker, Ryan (Gaby) Lucker, Greg (Heidi) Lucker, Jessica (Levi) Bos, Megan (Jacob) Bale, and Karli Schwab; 7 great-grandchildren; and sisters Corrine Skjefte and Milly Raffety. A public visitation will be held from 1pm until 3pm on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10am on Monday, February 13, 2012 at Resurrection Catholic Parish with interment to follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Agnes’ name to the Greater Gallatin United Way, 945 Technology Blvd. #101F, Bozeman, MT 59718 or the Bozeman Senior Center, 807 N. Tracy Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715.