Wanda Lightner

BURLEY, Idaho - Former Montana resident Wanda Lightner, 97, died of natural causes Saturday at her daughter's home in Burley, Idaho.
Her funeral is 1 p.m. Friday at Pondera Funeral Home in Conrad, with visitation an hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Lake View Cemetery in Valier. Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley and Pondera Funeral Home of Conrad are in charge of arrangements.
She is survived by one daughter, Sandra Tracy of Burley, Idaho; a son-in-law, Jack Rowekamp of Conrad; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Born in Galata, Mont., in 1911, Wanda was the youngest child born to Alexander and Ellie Raines. As a child, she moved with her family to Valier, where she attended school. There, she met and later married Lloyd Lightner in 1929. The couple farmed north of Valier, where they raised their family until they retired and moved to Conrad.
Wanda's interests were varied. She enjoyed music and taught herself to play the piano and guitar. Gardening was one of her greatest pleasures, and she raised all varieties of flowers. An accomplished seamstress, she made most of her own and her daughters' clothes in her younger years and later enjoyed knitting, tatting and quilting. While living in Valier, Wanda was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, where she held several offices.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, in 1987; a son, Donald in 1983; a daughter, Patsy in 2000; daughter Grace in 2005; grandson Mark Rowekamp in 1997; and son-in-law Don Tracy in 2006. Wanda was also preceded in death by her five siblings, Jenny Raines, Zail Raines, Basil Raines, Oakle Campbell and Audrey DeVinney.
Because of her love of animals, particularly cats, the family requests donations be made to the Conrad Animal Shelter or the Humane Society in Great Falls in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.