Chloe Eckes

Chloe Pearl Striker Bunn Eckes was born Sept. 15, 1914, in Bucyrus, N.D., and died Jan. 2, 2008, in Butte.

She was the daughter of Charles E. Striker and Lily Buffenbarger Striker in a family of five brothers and three sisters. Her childhood was spent on the homestead farm and Chloe was graduated from Bucyrus Public School in 1934.

She was grateful when her dad sold a wagon of wheat to buy her a Royal typewriter so she could attend Fargo Business College. In 1937 Chloe married Clifford Bunn; they lived in Miles City and Glendive where he was employed by Bell Telephone.

Her family enjoyed many summer camping trips, fall harvesting back at the farm, and winter tobogganing on Sunday afternoon. Clifford departed this life due to serious illness in 1951. Chloe was grateful her secretarial skills could then support her and her four children ranging in age from 3 to 13. At Zion Lutheran Church, Chloe was known as the "movie lady" to the Sunday School children.

She was a 4-H leader for 13 years and a staunch member of the Republican Women's Club.

In 1959 she married Albert Eckes with whom she spent many happy years traveling south in their motor home during the winter months, visiting family and making many new friends. For the past eight years, Chloe enjoyed living at the Waterford and worshiping at Gold Hill Lutheran in Butte. Sewing hems and making friends, sewing Lutheran World Relief quilts, playing pinochle, and joining the Chateau Quilters filled her days with many new friends.

As a schoolgirl, Chloe played basketball in Bucyrus so she loved watching the Lakers play and win - sometimes staying up very late to see the end of an exciting game. She especially enjoyed spending time with her adult grandchildren.

Chloe had a zest for life. Her faith, family, and friends provided the drive for her to overcome many setbacks; she demonstrated remarkable resiliency and refusal to quit.

In recent years her family nicknamed her the "Energizer Bunny" until a doctor topped that by saying "Chloe has more lives than a bunch of cats." She saw each day as a blessing; as a farmer's daughter she enjoyed each season, raindrop and snowflake.

Her eight great-grandchildren provided a special joy and to them her beautiful smile was even brighter.

Her passion and zest for life can be summarized by one of her favorite quotes: "If you want to go some place you have never been, you will have to do something you have never done." She had devotions daily and loved the book of James; she was grateful to live "in His loving arms." Chloe will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her five brothers; two husbands; son-in-law, Wayne Scott; and granddaughter, Holly Bunn.

Chloe is survived by her children: Paul Bunn of Columbia Falls, Chloe Fay Scott of Charlotte, N.C., Miriam Haley and son-in-law, Dennis of Butte and Mark Bunn of Glasgow; grandchildren, Eric Bunn, his wife, Jen, and her great-grandsons, Avery and Owen, Lori Ann Scott, Cheryl Goosen, her husband, Bill, and great-granddaughter, Nikki, Crystal O'Connor and her husband, Pat, Jennifer Haley, Keith Haley and his wife, Kayla, and great-grandchildren, Cassie and Jace, Chelsea Bunn and her husband, Aaron Danner, and great-grandchildren, Ayla, Isha and Elowyn; sisters, Doris Wangsvick of Key West, Fla., and Edith Freeberg and her husband, Clark of Butte; stepson and his family, Frank and Claudine Eckes of Bozeman, and their daughters, Melanie, Marcelyn and Rachel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, at 11 a.m. immediately followed by fellowship and lunch at Gold Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church; and on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church immediately followed by fellowship and lunch in Glendive. Burial will be at Dawson County Cemetery.

Memorials: Gold Hill Lutheran Church Kitchen Project and Zion Lutheran Radio Fund.

Published in The Montana Standard on 1/4/2008.