Beverly "Bunny" O'Connor

Beverly LilliAnn (Lysen) OConnor, 80, passed away peacefully at 7:11 PM on February 7th, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri, where she had been lovingly cared for while battling the lingering effects of encephalitis.Visitation will begin at 10 AM on Friday, February 15th at Christ United Methodist / First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Falls, with the funeral service commencing at 11 AM.Burial will follow at the Cascade Cemetery, in Cascade, MT.Schnider Funeral Home in Great Falls is handling arrangements.Known to most as Bunny, she was born in Starbuck, Minnesota on August 9, 1932.She was a graduate of Washburn High School near Minneapolis; and worked as an occupational therapist after graduating from the University of Minnesota. She and Dr. John Edward OConnor married on January 31, 1956.While they began their married life in California, they also lived in the following communities as Dr. OConnors medical career developed and their family grew to include three sons:Omaha, Nebraska; Oakland, California; Iowa City, Iowa; Missoula, Montana, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.The family finally settled in Great Falls, Montana in 1974. In 1995, Bunny and John moved to Cascade.John preceded Bunny in death in November of 2002.Bunny eventually moved back to Great Falls, where she resided in her home until February of 2011 when an illness required her transition to a skilled nursing facility.She had been residing in the St. Louis area since August of 2011. Always a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, Bunny is survived by her three sons families:Daniel OConnor of Great Falls with children Christine, Kevin, and Sarah, and their mother, Elizabeth OConnor; John David (Swen) and Debbie OConnor of Fenton, Missouri with children John Thomas, Mary and Natalie; William and Melody OConnor of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota with children John Paul, Anya, and Cooper.Surviving siblings include:a brother, Doug Lysen, of Minneapolis; two sisters, Helen McCrocklin of San Jose, California and Irene Ranten of Burlington, Washington; and a sister-in-law, Carol Dikeman of Denver, Colorado.Bunny was very active in the community and was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Great Falls.She always offered her warm smile to each person she met, generously giving her love and help to others in need.No matter where she was, people fell in love with her.She will be missed by all who knew her.Donations in Beverlys name may be made to the Great Falls Community Food Bank, 1620 12th Ave. No., Great Falls, MT 59401 or to a charity of your choice.Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.