Thief River Falls - Irene E. Westman, 66, died Saturday, December 26, 1998 at the CNC Unit of Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services will be held today (Wednesday, December 30) at 2 p.m. at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Strandquist with Reverend Erling Huglen officiating. Ellen Johnson will be the organist. Special music will be provided by Abbie Houske and Haeli Stokke, Christina Westman and Marge and James Olson. Irene's daughter, Stacy Reese, will read a poem. Casketbearers will be James Hjelle, Elton Underdahl, Wesley Bring, Walfred Larson, Stanley Adlis, Palmer Rud, Weslie Rud and Norman Roppe. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Newfolden.
Visitation was held on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to services at the church.
Irene Elizabeth Bilodeau was born on January 8, 1932 in Gorham, New Hampshire, the daughter of George and Veronica (Derosier) Bilodeau. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended school in Gorham, NH.
On January 8, 1954 she was united in marriage to Eldor Westman in the Lutheran parish in Gorham, NH. After Eldor was discharged from the Army, the couple moved to Newfolden where they raised their family. Irene continued to make her home in the Newfolden and Strandquist areas until moving to the CNC Unit of Northwest Medical Center in May of 1997.
She was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Strandquist. She enjoyed singing, doing puzzled and especially spending time with family and friends.
Irene is survived by her husband, Eldor of Strandquist; five sons, James (Wanda) of Strathcona, Darrell of Strandquist, Ronald (Angie) and Brian (Rhonda), both of Greenbush, and Clayton of Newfolden; six daughters, Dianne Nelson of Thief River Falls, Debra (Maynard) Lillico of Newfolden, Tammy (John) Houske of Thief River Falls, Marla Westman of Thief River Falls, Judy (Dale) Webster of Chandler, AZ, and Stacy Reese of Roseau; 27 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Tim Nelson of Newfolden and Palmer Reese of Mesquite, NV; four brothers, George (Mary) Bilodeau of Buckfield, ME, Ronald (Donna) Bilodeau of Meredith, NH, and Lewis (Nancy) Bilodeau and James (Linda) Bilodeau, both of Gorham, NH; four sisters, Shirley Sanborn of Wilder, VT, Margaret Ellis of Chesterfield, DE, JoAnne Peters of Gorham, NH and Lois (Covey) George of Berlin, NH; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Daisy Bilodeau; and one brother, Ernest Bilodeau.