Sylvia Budak Taflan, 88, a lifelong Poplar-area resident, died of natural causes Friday, November 15 th , 2013 at Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point.
The oldest of four children she was born at home October 19, 1925 to her Romanian immigrant parents, Matt and Laurentia Budak in Chelsea, MT. Sylvia attended the Poplar Public School system before enrolling in The College of St. Catherine’s in St. Paul, MN where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, a rare event for women of that era.
After graduation she worked in social services in Youngstown, OH while living with her mother’s twin sister, also named Sylvia. There she met her husband of 63 years, John Taflan, of Salem, OH. Sylvia and John moved to Poplar in 1951 to help on her dad’s farm and ranch while her only brother, George, served in the US Navy. They remained in the area to begin building their own spread.
She was a member of the Poplar Women’s Club, American Legion Auxiliary Post 55, the Women’s Lion’s Club, the Elk’s Club, the Altar Society of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar where she was an active lifelong member. She enjoyed playing bridge, dancing, gardening and traveling. A milestone in her life was a two-week European trip she took with her son Jeff. She also visited her cousins in Romanian with husband John and son Joe. She dearly loved her large family and took great joy and pride in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who she visited as often as she could.
Her parents, sister Mary Jane, and two grandchildren preceded her in death.
She is survived by husband, John, her steadfast caregiver in her final years; her sister, Lucretia Popa, of Columbia Falls, MT; her brother, George (Roberta), of Poplar; her children, John (Eileen) of Elmhurst, IL, Jim (Liz) of Helena, MT, Joe (Bernie) of Bloomington, IL, Jeff of Lake Balboa, CA, Jane (Darin) of Poplar, Jerome of Poplar, Julie of Great Falls; 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services with Sunday liturgy will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar at 10:30 a.m. November 24, 2013.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family using the form below.