Lyla Meske

Lyla Mae (Piper) Meske, 77, of Great Falls, passed away Sunday, December 4, 2016, succumbing to bladder and colon cancer at Peace Hospice, with friends and family at her side during her final days.Lyla Mae was born March 18, 1939 in Fargo, ND to William and Lillian (Fluegel) Piper of Durbin, ND. She attended Durbin Elementary School, Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo and then went on to graduate with a degree in Pharmacy from North Dakota State University in 1961.She was married to Kenneth Meske on July 14, 1961. They soon found themselves pursuing their careers and life together in Great Falls, Montana. Each day had challenges and each day had blessings to keep them steadfast in their faith. Thanks be to God for the life they enjoyed together.Lyla completed her internship with Deanes Pharmacy and the original Deaconess Hospital. She was part of the original Pharmacy staff at the new Deaconess Hospital until raising her family took precedence. She continued her career at Snyder Drug when her children became school age. She did some substitute coverage for Pharmacists on vacation at Benton Pharmacy and Fairfield Pharmacy, enjoying getting acquainted with residents of those communities. She retired in December 1999.She had a love for sewing, flower gardens and flower arranging. She sewed many dresses, blouses and jackets for herself, her daughter, and her granddaughters. She shared that love of sewing and flower arranging with numerous neighborhood children by leading a 4-H club for many years. She was a member of the Cascade County Extension Home Demonstrators All-together Club for over 50 years.Upon retirement, quilting became a full time hobby. She made Queen or King sized quilts as wedding gifts for her children, nieces, nephews and granddaughter plus baby quilts for grandnieces and grandnephews. She was devoted to quilting weekly with the Peace Lutheran Church quilting group and several times a month with The All-Together Club to make quilts for numerous charitable groups working with children in our community.Lyla Mae is survived by her husband of 55 years, Kenneth; her daughter Diane (Dan) Willhoite and granddaughters Sara (John) Hardy and Kendra of Medina, OH; and son Curtis (Dawn Kim) Meske, MD and grandson Joel Meske and granddaughter McKeely Meske of Kerikeri, New Zealand. Having grown up as an only child, she treasured her bothers-in-laws, Dalton and Rodney Meske and their extended families in Minnesota and Nebraska and numerous Piper and Fluegel cousins and their families.Her father and mother preceded her in death in 1995 and 2009 respectively.Visitation will held at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel on Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and a brief sermonette will be shared by Pastor Steven Schlund of Peace Lutheran Church at 10:15 a.m. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. A memorial service will be conducted during the summer months when travel is more convenient for extended family.Memorials in honor of her life can be directed to the Cascade County 4-H Foundation, 3300 3rd St NE #9, Great Falls, MT 59404; Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405; McCall Hospital Auxiliary, 1000 State Street, McCall, ID 83638; or a charity of the donors choice.