June Bennett Neil
SUPERIOR - June Bennett Neil passed away on Tuesday September 4, 2012, at Mountain View Assisted Living in Superior. She was born June 12, 1921, in Superior to Jane (Lajeunesse) Bennett and Harmon J. Bennett.
In September 1941, she married Doyne B. Neil. They shared their first years ranching at Quartz Flats where they stayed until Doyne went into the Army.
They traveled together to California and North Carolina before Doyne left for Europe. After the war, they returned to ranching at Quartz, moving to Superior in 1950.
June worked in Superior at the Mayo Store, Mineral Community Hospital, and Superior Clipping Service. She was active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, St. Mary’s Altar Society, and enjoyed playing pinochle or bridge with several card clubs. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener and winemaker until she was almost 90.
While Doyne was alive they enjoyed camping trips to the East coast and Virginia to visit granddaughter Andréa and parents.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1985; daughter Lana in 1960; sisters Helen, Winifred, and Jane; brothers Jack, Harmon D. (Bill), and Richard; and stepson Dick Smith and his wife Sandy.
She is survived by her son Rick and daughter-in-law Nancy of Fredericksburg, Virginia; her granddaughter Andréa Neil Monica (husband Andrew) of Bethesda, Maryland; nephews Ray Hilton and Don Parkin; and nieces Barbara Fenske and Donna May.
Cremation was handled by Garden City Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at St. Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Superior with Father Bart Tolleson officiating. Following mass, June’s ashes will be buried at the Superior Cemetery at Doyne and Lana’s gravesite.
Following gravesite services a reception will be held at St. Mary Queen of Heaven Church basement at about 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. Mary’s Altar Society, Box 103, Superior MT 59872; or United Service Organizations Inc. (www.uso.org).