Barbara Twaddle

Barbara Twaddle-Hamon

Great Falls —Barbara Twaddle-Hamon, 82, of Great Falls passed away in her home of breast cancer on November 4, 2013. A memorial service will be held at New Hope Christian Church (901 Ave B NW) at 3 p.m. Saturday November 9, 2013. Arrangements are in the care of Croxford Funeral Home. Barbara was born August 8, 1931 at home in Edmore, North Dakota to Judith Syverson and Arthur Twaddle, the second of nine children. She grew up in Edmore, graduating from Edmore High in 1949 as salutatorian of her class. The summer before her senior year she eloped with Lowell Torkelson; from this union came her three children. They moved to Great Falls, Montana in the summer of 1951 and remained there until 1972, except for their seven months in Havre, Montana in 1957 and the eleven months in Walla Walla, Washington in 1959. In 1972 the family relocated to Seattle, Washington and after divorcing in 1977, Barbara returned to North Dakota to care for her ailing father. After his death in 1979, she moved to southern Idaho in search of milder climate and to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She remained in Idaho until 2005 when she relocated once again to Great Falls, the place she always called "home." In 2011, she reconnected with longtime friend, Harold Hamon and they were married on August 26, 2011. Throughout her life she worked various jobs while also raising her children and providing a warm, inviting home. She was compassionate, outgoing, and a loving person who made bushels of friends wherever she was, and whatever she was doing. Having friends and neighbors into her home for homemade soup, baked goods, or just coffee was the highlight of her day. Always the life of the party, she was a beautiful woman inside and out. She was a very avid bridge player, both party and duplicate, at groups throughout Great Falls as well as at home with friends. She was baptized into Christ in 1965 in Fort Benton, Montana and faithfully served the Lord for the remainder of her earthly life. She was loved by many and will be missed by many, especially by her husband Harold and her children. Barbara is survived by her husband Harold Hamon of Great Falls; daughters, Nicki Wharton (Don) of Pasco, WA, Kitti Torkelson Severns (Cy) of Fort Smith, AR; stepdaughters, Linda Low of Malta, MT, Sue Anne Parrish (Steve) of Great Falls, Portia Donato (Frank) of Havre, Anita Thies (Brian) of Great Falls; son, Zachary Torkelson (Brandi) of Cheney, WA; stepsons, Delbert Hamon (Sherry) of Huntington, IN, Allen Hamon (Kathy) of Skidmore, MO; sisters, Peggy Balek of Great Falls, Rita Nicholas of Santa Rosa, CA, Ardi Aiken of Big Fork, MT, Judy Gage of Devils Lake, ND; brothers, Robert "Buzz" Twaddle (Kathy) of Santa Cruz, CA, Richard Twaddle (Shirley) of Bovey, MN, James Twaddle (Corrine) of Cohasset, MN, Thomas Twaddle (Kathy) of Kansas City, MO; 11 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 19 step grandchildren; 20 step great grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to Little Rockies Christian Camp, 1296 Landusky Rd, Dodson, MT 59524 or New Hope Christian Church.

Condolences to the family may be shared at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com