Eunice Eleanor Poore Magnuson

Eunice Eleanor Poore Magnuson of Great Falls, left this world for her promised perfect world on Saturday, August 25. She was 94. She was born to Frances and Quincy Poore of Poplar, Mont., on Dec. 19, 1923. She grew up and received her schooling there, graduating from Poplar High School in 1942. In 1943 and 1944, she lived in Seattle, Wash., working for Civil Service, then returned to Poplar in 1944. On July 19, 1945, she married Melvin H. Magnuson in Wolf Point. They farmed and raised their family in Poplar, leaving in 1965 when they purchased the Diamond Bar X guest ranch near Augusta. There Eunice did what she termed the hardest work of her life, cooking, occasional bartending, laundering, cleaning and everything that comes with ownership of a guest facility, albeit in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth. In 1968, the family moved to Great Falls, then after a year and a half, to Rocky Boys Reservation, where he built housing, returning to Great Falls three years later. After her husband died in 1981, she continued to make her home in Great Falls. She studied to get her Real Estate license and was an agent in Great Falls for several years. After her retirement, she spent her time caring for grandchildren. On numerous occasions, she put her life on hold to become a caregiver to a number of family members in other states. Eunice was a woman of deep and abiding faith and was a longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, serving as an officer of its altar society for many years. She was a gift shop volunteer for Columbus and Benefis hospitals for 25 years, belonged to the R.S.V.P. organization and generally was eager to help out her friends and community whenever and wherever needed. She loved to sketch and paint and had a true affinity for the outdoors, fishing and camping and golfing. She loved to go for walks and to socialize with her Bingo buddies. It can be said that almost to the end, Eunice was always up for a good argument with anyone who was willing to accommodate her. Preceding her in death were her parents Quincy Poore and Frances Poore-Lockman; stepfather, Earl Lockman; husband, Melvin Magnuson; and sisters, Della Marottek and Shirley Wright. Surviving are her sons, Michael (Cheri) Magnuson of Great Falls and M. Patrick Magnuson of Wolf Point; and daughters, Marilyn (Richard) Osterman of Great Falls and Mariann (Roger Rader) Magnuson of Sun River. Her nine grandchildren are, Jamie Magnuson Goode of Denver, Landon Magnuson of Kalispell and Marshall Magnuson of Great Falls; Meghan and Christopher Magnuson of Great Falls, Ryan Osterman of Great Falls, Laurel Rader of Sun River, Lance Rader of Great Falls and Shawna Rader Kelly of Bozeman. Great-grandchildren are Maryah Necessary and Tyrese Goode of Denver, Dylan and Nathan Ziobro of Great Falls, Madelyn, Emmett, Kinley and Brielle Osterman of Great Falls, Connor and Montgomery Magnuson of Kalispell, Kyler Kelly of Bozeman, and Gabriel Magnuson of Great Falls. Counted among her closest survivors are Rosann Johnson Elvsaas of Froid and Woodrow Q. Johnson of Poplar, oldest children of her sister Della, who died prematurely in an automobile accident, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. She will be sorely missed. A vigil service will be Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. The funeral liturgy will be Friday, August 31, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. also at Our Lady of Lourdes.