Alda Nurmi

Alda LaNelle Nurmi, 90, of Great Falls, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2016.A memorial service will be Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at OConnor Memorial Chapel, 2425 8th Ave N. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Alda LaNelle Nelson was born on February 27, 1926 to Ellen and Louis Nelson. She was one of eight children of Swedish heritage. Her parents homesteaded in Ulm. They moved to Great Falls where she graduated in 1944 from Great Falls High School. She attended beauty school, but decided beauty work wasnt for her. She went to Great Falls Commercial College and went into insurance. She was an underwriter for crop/hail at St. Paul Insurance Company. She retired in 1989.She was a single mom of four children when she met a dashing Air Force man named Gene Nurmi. He would show up for their dates with milk and bread. Who could resist? They married in 1964. He retired and went into the trucking business. They loved to travel in their RV or go boating at the lake. They spent winters in Arizona. They were the love of each others lives.Mom loved her cards! She played Bridge and Pinochle for many years. She also had a Farkle group. She went to the Other Place every weekday to have coffee with Audrey, Vi and Corrine. She loved golfing. Every year we had a Nelson Family Golf Tournament. She loved to dance, go to community concerts, movies, and go on drives. She also loved the two beers the doctor said she could have. She would go to Big Johns for potluck and watch football. She rooted for the Griz and the Seahawks.Alda lived life to the fullest, loving her many friends and family. She didnt like to cook, but she had a talent for decorating. She never turned down an invitation! She was always on the go, never wanting to miss out on anything. She was a bright, shining star. We will miss her laughter and humor fiercely.She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Ellen Nelson; husband Gene; brothers Raynold, Marshall, and Curtis Nelson; sister Una Sundet; son Mack Wade; daughter Bobbi McBride; and grandson Gene Wade.Alda is survived by her daughters, Shar (Bill) Busta and Michelle Gravlin (Darrel Skolrud); son Walter (Tammy) of Gig Harbor, WA; grandchildren Cody McBride, Christopher Tompkins, and Anthony Kuntz of Great Falls, Kimberly Bundy of Fort Myers, FL, Dori Busta of Portland, OR, Ryan Busta of Stellacomb, WA, Shawn Toenyes of Albuquerque, NM, and J.J. of Texas; great-grandchildren Claire, Kaitlyn, Avery, Isaac, Talon, Harper, Kora, Deja, and Lilly; and her beloved dog, Henry Higgins.Donations can be made to St. Judes Hospital or Peace Hospice who cared lovingly for her.