Agnes Marie Garfield, 96 years young passed away peacefully on November 09, 2013 at the Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point, Montana surrounded by her loving family. Mom was born on July 29, 1917 in Williston, North Dakota to Roger Moran and Theresa Morin and was the second eldest of 12 children. She attended school as a young child in Trenton, North Dakota and Dagmar, Montana where she rode to school on horseback. Mom attended high school at Flandreau, South Dakota where she graduated at the age 16. She married Daniel A. Garfield on November 22, 1937 in Wolf Point, Montana and they were married for 53 years before he passed away. From this blessed union 12 children were born; 6 boys and 6 girls or half a dozen of one kind and 6 of the other as she fondly would say. Mom was a hard worker and worked in almost every eating establishment in town as a waitress and a cook while raising her family. She started the breakfast feeding program for children in Wolf Point until the program was implemented into the schools. She was a devout Catholic and a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Church. She was a member of St. Theresa Alter Society, Catholic Daughters and Katerie Tekawitha and attended several conferences throughout the United States.
Mom was well known for her story telling and her stories were published in the Wolf Point Herald News in the Christmas edition for many years. She loved to garden, and grew vegetables that she cooked and canned, always making sure her family had plenty to eat. Right after she graduated from High School her mother passed during childbirth and mom gave up her dream of becoming a nurse to help raise her younger siblings. Mom sewed and among many of the things she made were dresses for her daughters. Mom came from a very musical family and played piano, guitar and would sing with her siblings and taught her sons how to play at a young age and they subsequently started a rock band while they were still in high school. They were known as the Rare Breed. Mom would read the bible to her children at night and did nightly prayers with them if she was not working. Mom always came up with ways to entertain her children by singing, telling stories or playing games with us. She loved having parties at the house including the annual fish fry, holidays and would have Halloween block parties for all of the children on our block. When the boys were young, mom took them hunting and picking berries and taught all of her children how to be self-sufficient. Mom loved her family dearly and she will be greatly missed by everyone. We could go on and on about memories of our mother but we would have to write a book. Rest in peace sweet mama, we love you.
Mom was preceded in death by our dad, Daniel Garfield, her parents, 2 Sisters, 5 Brothers and a son, Douglas Garfield and Grandson, Ronnie Garfield.
Mom is survived by her sons; Daniel (Dixie) Garfield, Larry (Sheena) Garfield, Vance(Clairanne) Garfield, Chuck (Janice) Garfield, and Leon (Ruth) Garfield, Daughters; Joan Small, Cleo Shumway, Cecelia (Hyram) Peters, Nancy Nordwick, Marshelle Lambert, and Desiree Garfield and 36 grandchildren, 99 great grandchildren, and 30 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters and three brothers.
A rosary will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 13 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, November 14 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wolf Point. Cremation is to follow service. Inurnment will take place at a later date.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family using the form below.