As I sat in a chair next to a medical bed containing what’s left of the woman I call Mom. While holding her soft frail hand, quietly she opens her mouth and takes in a soft breath…just one single breath…in… then out…and she was gone. Just like that…straight into the arms of Jesus…PRAISE THE LORD!
Margaret Homolka, age 81, of Helena, passed away February 16, 2017. She was born on April 20, 1935.
What is it that I want you to know about her? I want you to know she was my Mom. Well and also Harlan, Gary and Darrell’s Mom…but other than them she was the best Mom ever…MY MOM!
I want you to know that she had purpose in this life. She was the 2nd of 9 children born to Vera Mae Lloyd (Alma Lee, Margaret and her twin Marcus, Ruth, Arvie, Donna and Wilma. Two children died at or near birth age). She had numerous nieces and nephews. She was proud of her family and where she came from, Eagletown, Oklahoma. She met and married Ras Reed from Story, Arkansas. They met and settled in California and had 4 children.
She was equally proud and over the moon for her children Harlan Reed (Kathy), Gary Reed (Robin), Kimberly Lane (Steve), and Darrell Reed…her Grandchildren Michael Reed (Anqunita), Michelle Taylor (Jason), Genny Reed, Nikki (Jason), Daniel Reed (Joann) and Katelyn Reed…her Great Grandchildren Billie Jo, Harley Dale, Nathaniel, Steven, Jaden, Heidi, Logan, Malaina and Holly.
I want you to know how smart she was…she worked as a Government Inspector for an electronics company Systron/Donner for over 20 years and retired in 1998 to move to Montana where she could take care of her terminally ill 2nd husband John Homolka, and be near her daughter.
She had a dry sense of humor, a wonderful wit and a caring nature. She was diliagent and courageous in the up-bringing of her children. She loved watching her children and grandchildren play sports. She was a forever 49rs fan. She was very opinionated about her politics and didn’t mind sharing her view (Republican of course, Yea!).
She is preceded in death by her Mother, Father Robert Downs, Step- Father Harrson Lloyd, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, her baby sister and baby brother Arie Charles, Arvie, twin brother Marcus, brothers, Harlan and Darrell Reed, nephew Royal Gene, niece Pam.
Our hearts are broken and we miss her greatly. But we have comfort and joy knowing we will be reuniting in Heaven soon. What a day that will be. But for now she will be forever in our hearts and whispering in our ears…come home!
She IS my MOM!
A viewing with family receiving friends will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A Funeral Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 23, 2017 at South Hills Baptist Fellowship, 1 Jackson Creek Rd., Clancy, with a reception to follow the service at the church. Burial will follow the reception at Deep Creek Cemetery in Townsend. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Margaret.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 22, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Thursday February 23, 2017
South Hills Baptist Fellowship
1 Jackson Creek Rd.
Clancy, Montana 59634
Funeral Reception
After the service
Thursday February 23, 2017
South Hills Baptist Fellowship
1 jackson Creek Rd.
Clancy, Montana 59634
Burial
After the reception
Thursday February 23, 2017
Deep Creek Cemetery
Townsend, Montana 59644
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 22, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Thursday February 23, 2017
South Hills Baptist Fellowship
1 Jackson Creek Rd.
Clancy, Montana 59634
Funeral Reception
After the service
Thursday February 23, 2017
South Hills Baptist Fellowship
1 jackson Creek Rd.
Clancy, Montana 59634
Burial
After the reception
Thursday February 23, 2017
Deep Creek Cemetery
Townsend, Montana 59644
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Alta Williams Scott says
Maggie is my first cousin – my mother Mary was Aunt Vera’s oldest sister. We were good friends for so many years – from childhood until around 2012. I will always miss Margaret.
Alta Williams Scott says
Maggie so loved all four of her children – Harland Dale, Gary Lee, Kimberly, and Darrell Reed. Her life revolved around them. Maggie worked at Systron-Donner in Concord, California for decades, beginning in 1969. She and her first husband, Raz Reed, bought a beautiful home in Pittsburg, California about 1974, where the children graduated high school. Raz and Margaret were divorced by the eighties.
Maggie married John Holmolka and moved to Townsend, Montana. They had many good years together.
Maggie loved her home, her children, and she loved to dance. Anyone who knew her was surely blessed beyond measure.
John Scott says
Cousin Margaret was my second cousin from my Mom. When I was in the military and stationed in California (Travis) she was always so kind to me and offered her home as mine if I ever needed or wanted to come on by. Cousin Margaret was a very giving and alive person meaning that she had an abundance of energy that just made everyone around her step up and have fun. The last time I saw her was in the late 90s when I was passing through Montana from where I was stationed in North Dakota at the time, and she had lost none of her positive outlook. I do miss not being nearer or keeping in touch, for she was awesome! I will pray for Kim and Gary and your families that you continue on as your Mother (my cousin) would have wanted and I know she is with Jesus now and watching over us.
Pat Howell says
Kim: My thoughts and prayers are with you in this sad time of losing your Mother. God Bless.
Pat Howell
Ruth M. Reed says
Kim You are a mothers dream for a daughter you took very good care of your mother when she needed you in her later years. She was blessed by God to have been chosen to be your Mother. As you know life is so short and time goes so fast. I love you and know how devoted you are to your family. God Bless you and keep you in his care. I have good memory’s of all the 6 sisters and the one brother that grew up in the high country of New Mexico, and moving to Calif. in our teen years those were the good old days. Then we all became adults and went our way becoming family’s and those days were full of love for each other. We still have a bond no one can break. Margaret will join the one’s who have gone before to rejoice with God. She like me had many of the ones she loved so much join God. Love Aunt Ruth
Donna walker says
My heart goes out to you Kim for the heartache you have gone through, your husband and now your mother not to mention your brothers. Time to take care of yourself I know you will get your strength through your faith. You are lucky to have family close to help you..Ama Lee, Ruth, Wilma and I will miss having our two sisters and brother. Take care Love Aunt Donna
Kathy Reed says
My Dearest Sister Kim, We all have a special place in our hearts for Mom. She will always be there. She loved us all so much. She would do anything we ever needed, always there for us. Taking the Michael and Michelle on vacations was so meaningful for them, they have great memories of Grandma Margaret and Grandpa John. Bringing Billie and Harley back home when she was 70 years old was an amazing way of showing how much she loved them too.. She was so dedicated to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be missed, but not forgotten – in our hearts forever. She is now with Steve, Harlan, Darrell and others that have gone before. They are they are all waiting for us to join them. My prayers and wishes are with you. All My Love, Kathy
Ama Lee Myrick says
Dear Kim, Gary, I am so sorry that you are going through such a sad time. I too will miss Margaret my sister who was so bonded to all of us. I remember the good time’s we had together when she lived for a short time in Clarksville, Texas and we traveled to Arkansas to visit Ruth what a fun time that was. The six sisters and one brother build lots of memories to keep us going when one of us is call into God’s Kingdom. My heart is hurting for you and Gary may your faith in GOD give you comfort at this time in your life. I love and Pray for you and Gary. So sorry my health does not allow me to travel to be there to show you my love. Aunt Ama Lee
Wilma France says
Dear Kim
You have to be the sweetest and best daughter a mother could ever have. Thank you for taking great care of my sister in her last years. She loved you so much. You wrote wonderful things about you and your brothers lives with her. She was a great mother and the best. She is smiling down from heaven now at us and watching over all of us. I will miss talking to her so much. I know she loved me as she told me so many times.
You have been through so much Kim, you are very strong and it has to be your faith keeping you strong. I really miss talking to you also and hope to hear from you soon. We wish we could be there. We love you, Aunt Wilma and George.
Riggins says
Kim, Gary and Kathy, our thoughts and prayers are with you as you move through this sad time of losing your Mother. As with any lose, all the memories come flooding back from the past. Looking at the above picture and reading Kim’s sweet tribute, I can see Aunt Margret’s smile and hear her infectious laughter. We knew her as our Aunt and in later years, as a friend named Maggie. Rest assured, she had a wonderful and full life and loved her family without question. She will be waiting for you. Love you, Deual and Linda Riggins
Ruth M. Reed says
Kim, & Gary, Just wanted you to know I am so sorry I could not be with you at this time. I would have loved to remembered and talked about the good times of our lives. Margaret was a dear a dear devoted sister. We had so much fun growing up and raising our family’s. We were such a large family and always each other. I will miss her so much, When I talked to her last she remembered my voice. I will always treasure that memory that she remembered my voice. Because at times she did not know who she was talking to. God is so good to give me that last Memory of her. Thank GOD he is so good. Keep in touch from time to time. Love Aunt Ruthie
Paula Brown says
Aunt Maggie was a wonderful person and full of laughs and hugs love her family and friends she will be not forgotten but always in our hearts…….love you Auntie Maggie see you in heaven niece Paula,Todd,Bryan,Kathryn……
Mary Anne Molineux says
I’ve known Maggie for the past year at Rennanisance where my husband is a resident. She was one of my favorite people there–waving and smiling whenever I came. She hung out a lot with Gwen and I would often see them sitting together like school girls talking and giggling or sharing a box of oreos or just resting with Maggie’s head on Gwen’s shoulder. She seemed to love visiting with me and was cheerful when talking to me. I remember one of the staff helping her to get up and I commented that they looked like they were dancing and she laughed and laughed, My most recent memory was helping her play bingo. She seemed so excited and told me she was having so much fun. I will miss you. You were blessed to have such a great mom!