Erma Marie Kurk

Erma (Hoell) Kurk, 86, a lifelong resident of the Gallatin Valley, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2016. She was born to Joseph J. and Bertie E. Hoell in Bozeman on March 27, 1930.

Erma was raised in Bear Canyon, southeast of Bozeman, on a farm. As was typical of rural life at that time, hard work characterized her life. Fun times growing up were spent with cousins and neighborhood kids, riding horseback in the fields and nearby mountains.

She attended LaMotte grade school, Gallatin County High School, (graduating in 1947), and married James Kurk on December 30, 1951. She enjoyed old-time country dances as well as her Foresters church group activities. She was active in both Resurrection Parish and Holy Rosary Catholic Communities.

In addition to farming with her husband and children, she worked for Gallatin County (Treasurer and Assessor), two local banks, and retired from the Federal Land Bank. Vegetable and flower gardening were her love and she has shared her garden produce, as well as her canned goods, with many neighbors and family over the years. She loved to bake and seemed to have an endless supply of cookies on hand.

Survivors include: daughter Barbara (Robert) Marx of Bozeman, son Darrell (Sandy) Kurk of Billings; granddaughter Dawn (Scott) Kreuz of Bozeman, sisters-in-law Mildred Ward of Whitehall and Barbara Kurk of Bozeman, and Tucker, her beloved dog.

A vigil service will take place at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Sunday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held Monday, April 18, at 10:00 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church, 1725 South 11th Avenue in Bozeman. Interment to follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery, followed by a luncheon reception at Holy Rosary Parish at 220 West Main Street in Bozeman.