(June 16, 2005)
Toni McMaster, 52, ended her stubborn seven-year fight with brain cancer on June 16, 2005 at home surrounded by her family.
Her family will remember she loved the important things in life — God, family, friends, pets and, of course, butterflies.
McMaster was born September 8, 1952 in Casper to Stanley Smith and Phillis (Sweet) Smith. They preceded her in death in 1966 and 1967, and Toni was raised in Powell by an aunt and uncle. She graduated from Powell high School and later from a business college in Billings, Mont.
She and Johno C. McMaster were married in Helena, Mont. on June 3, 1974. She was last employed by the State of Montana in the Department of Public Health and Human Services as an accounting technician in the Fiscal Bureau in Helena.
Her hobbies included sewing, embroidery, and quilting.
Survivors include her husband of twenty-nine years, Johno C. McMaster of East Helena; a son, Shaun J. McMaster of Helena; a daughter, Shanon L. McMaster of East Helena; and granddaughter, Kaila S. McMaster of Dublin, California.
Other survivors include sisters, Shirley Scoonover of Cornelius, Ore., Marilyn Lockrem of Sacramento, Calif., Sonya Whitmore of Powell and Kathie Fischer of Morgan Hill, Calif.; brothers, Stanley Smith and Kenneth Smith, both of Colorado.
In lieu of a service, Toni’s wishes were for her family and friends to spend that time together. Her family prefers memorials in Toni’s name to Lost and Foundation, 517 Knight Street, Helena, MT 59601, or to the Cancer Treatment Center of St. Peter’s Hospital, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601.
Retz Funeral Home assisted the family with cremation arrangements.