Iva Marjorie Kephart, age 91, passed away peacefully Thursday July 11, 2013 in Helena, Montana. She was born August 25, 1921 in Falls City, Texas to Elmo J. and Iva B. Schulz, and was known as Marjorie for most of her life.
Marjorie attended Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas from 1940 to 1941. The family moved to Roswell, New Mexico in the earlier 1940s where her father worked in the physical plant services of Roswell Army Air Field. Marjorie was a clerk at Roswell Army Air Field during WWII where she met Lester H. Kephart, who was serving as a maintenance specialist on B-17 and B-29 aircraft. They were married July 26, 1944 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Marjorie and Lester witnessed the explosion of the Trinity atomic bomb in 1945 while they were driving home from a trip to Las Cruses.
They moved to Tucson, Arizona after the war where Lester worked in manual arts therapy at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Marjorie enrolled in courses at the University of Arizona during that time. She received a novice radio operator’s license in November 1952 with the call sign of WN7-STW. Beginning in the late 1950s, the family made frequent trips to Montana’s Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park. Lester and Marjorie acquired property inside Glacier Park near Huckleberry Mountain and in 1965 they purchased 80 acres in the Mountain Brook community 15 miles east of Kalispell, Montana. The family permanently moved to their Mountain Brook home in August 1969. She was a homemaker nearly all of her life, but also sold Shaklee products during the 1960s and 70s. She was active in the Disabled American Veterans auxiliary during the 1970s and 80s. Marjorie lived in Mountain Brook until 1998 and then moved to Helena. She resided at Rocky Mountain Care Center in Helena from 2005 until her death.
Marjorie is preceded in death by her parents, by her husband Lester (February 2, 1972), her brother Elmo R. Schulz (killed in action during WWII December 20, 1944), and her sister Mary. She is survived by: sister Mildred Allen of Campo, California; daughter Susan Harralson of Quitman, Arkansas; son Kenneth (Diane) Kephart of Billings, Montana; son Kevin (Lucy) Kephart of Brookings, South Dakota; and daughter Leslie (Jay) Pierson of Havre, Montana. Marjorie has eight grandchildren; Sara and Jason Kephart (parents Kenneth and Diane); Josephine, Natalie, Jonathan, and Abigail Kephart (parents Kevin and Lucy); and Jill and Nikki Pierson (parents Jay and Leslie).
A family gathering to celebrate Marjorie’s life will be held during autumn 2013 when her ashes will be interred at Conrad Cemetery in Kalispell. Condolences and memories can be shared below or by writing to Leslie Pierson, 700 17th ST, Havre, MT 59501 (email llprsn@optimum.net).
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Don and Joyce Griffith says
Our condolences are sent to the entire family. She was a very special person.
Lucy kephart says
I know that Marjorie was one of my mentors in strength. I will miss her.
Bill and Ester Willey says
W e are so sorry to hear of your loss. We will keep the Family in our prayers.
Mark Lalum says
Our family’s thoughts and prayers are with the Kephardt families. Now is the time to remember the fun times as a family and feel fortunate you had her with you as long as you did. May she rest in peace.