Cloudy, 52° F
(Sept. 26, 2004)
Funeral services are scheduled today (Thursday, Sept. 30) at the LDS Church in Laurel, Mont., for a Deaver native, Ila Marie Sigmon Godfrey, who died Sunday, Sept. 26 of cancer. She was 64.
She died with her family present and her husband holding her hand. She developed breast cancer in 1992. After an operation, she appeared cured. Then in 1999 the cancer reappeared. For the next five and half years, she took chemotherapy. During her illness, many people remarked what a beautiful, positive attitude she had.
Interment in the Cowley Cemetery will follow services in Montana.
She was born Ila Marie Sigmon on Feb. 5, 1940, daughter of Victor Edwin and Mamie Bell (Dillon) Sigmon, on a farm near Deaver. She joined a family consisting of her parents and one brother, Lyle Melvin. An older sister, Ruth, died about six months after birth.
She lived at Deaver until after the first grade. During her school years, the family moved many times. It was not unusual for Ila to attend three different schools in one year.
In 1957, she met Gene Peterson Godfrey. They were married Aug. 22, 1958, at the Cowley LDS Church. To this union were born four children: Alan, Trent, Brian and Karie.
On Oct. 15, 1966, she was baptized into the LDS Church. She was active in the church and taught Sunday School. She spent five years devoted to cub scouting, first as a den mother and later in volunteer work for the Yellowstone Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America.
She had many hobbies, including oil painting, crocheting, sewing, punch embroidery, lapidaries, rock hunting, family histories. She loved outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, skiing, golf, rock hunting and exploring the outdoors. She taught all her children skiing. Her approach to any hobby was to thoroughly learn about it.
In 1991, she and her husband purchased their dream place in the country. At first her dream was the peace and quiet of the country. Then she discovered her love for animals. They acquired all kinds of animals, including llamas.
