Vera Marjorie Pilgeram

Vera Marjorie Tax Pilgeram, 95, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Vera was born July 5, 1924, to Carl and Agnes Tax in Medicine Lake, Montana. She grew up with 7 sisters, 2 brothers and enjoyed an active outdoor life. As a youngster, Vera’s sense of adventure often found her in a little trouble - she climbed a windmill just because, and couldn't get down – she and her brothers found baby gophers and dug them up. They brought them home in a lunch pail - the gophers had fleas – her mom was not pleased! At 15, she stayed home for a year to help with the newest member to the family. Vera loved kids and decided to continue her education at the College of Great Falls, graduating with a two year teaching degree. She was immediately hired by the Medicine Lake school system and taught first grade. Mom started her teaching career in Medicine Lake MT, then Stevensville MT. Adventure called and Vera moved to San Bernardino, California, to teach at the Vermont School, and finally the Meisenbach School, Eden, MT. She loved teaching the little kids to read and write and watching their progress. She met her future husband, Don, at a dance in Eden while visiting her sister. They were married in August, 1954, and lived on their ranch in Eden. Together, they raised cattle, dairy cattle, and chickens. Mom was a true rancher’s wife - she candled eggs, helped hay, took care of chickens, chased cows, helped with grain harvest, planted trees, carried meals out to the field and made trips to town for parts. Mom made great chokecherry/apple jelly, and even tried her hand at making chokecherry wine. That was a great adventure – the first attempt at wine making ended with a small explosion of wine in the basement! Vera and Don raised three children, Carla, Fred and Carmen. She was an active member of the Catholic Church and Ladies Home Demonstration. Mom volunteered as a Foster Grandparent in the Great Falls School District at Lewis and Clark Elementary. She received volunteer awards and two Presidential volunteer service awards. Vera loved her flowers and her garden, and was known for her beautiful oil and acrylic paintings, excellent baking skills - cinnamon rolls, cookies, breads and cakes, and cake decorating, and her fantastic singing voice. Mom’s talent for oil and acrylic painting was amazing. She painted and gave pictures as gifts. Her art was accepted in the exhibition for the Art of Healing at the Clinic Cancer Care. Mom baked and decorated cakes for her family, friends and events, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and special occasions. Her talent for creating an incredible meal for everyday and holidays was amazing. The coffee was always on and welcoming. She loved to garden and raised an incredible abundance of vegetables.She was an expert at freezing and canning food. She was very proud of her flowers too, particularly her roses which flourished with her touch, in spite of Montana’s crazy winters. Mom made friends wherever she went – her community, her apartment complex, her doctors, her nurses, her rides. She touched so many lives. When she met a new friend, she immediately searched for a way she could help. She was strong in her faith and kind. She tackled illness with grace and dignity.Her smile was absolutely beautiful - her eyes twinkled. She adored her grandsons, great-grandsons, and great-granddaughters. Mom, you’ll be missed -----more than you can imagine. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don and son, Fred. Vera is survived by her daughters, Carla (Larry) Blanchard and Carmen (Greg) Bohn; sisters, Loyce Howard, Kathleen (Maurice) Driscoll, and Janice (Paul) Andrilenas; grandsons, Cody (Tami) Blanchard, Chris (Selena) Blanchard, Cade (Patricia) Blanchard, Cord (Kayla) Blanchard, Mitchell Bohn and C.J. Bohn; great-grandchildren, Paisley and Arabelle Blanchard, Wyatt Manolis, Zoe, Holly, and Everett Blanchard, and Neil and Emberly Blanchard. A rosary will be Friday, August 9, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. with a memorial service following at 2:00 p.m., both at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow the memorial service at Red Butte Cemetery.