Lyla Maxine Behrens, 95, of Townsend

Lyla Maxine Behrens, age 95, passed away peacefully in her sleep of natural causes on December 30, 2020.

Lyla, one of twelve children, was born November 5, 1925 to Earl and Violet Phar Blake in Orofino, Idaho. Lyla married Harry L. Behrens in Lewiston, Idaho, on October 7, 1944. They lived in Headquarters, Idaho, for the first years of their marriage where she worked as a secretary for Potlatch Forests, Inc. and CTPA. They later moved to Lewiston, Idaho, where she enjoyed life as a homemaker. In 1967, the family moved to Viola, Idaho, where Lyla served as the secretary to the Nazarene Church in Palouse, Washington, for 11 years. Harry and Lyla moved to Townsend, Montana in 1999 to be closer to their daughters.

Lyla is survived by her three daughters: Violet (Dick) Emerson of Pocatello, Idaho, Shirley (Cary) Hegreberg of Townsend, and Wanda (Ron) Spoon of Townsend, brother Maurice (Helen) Blake of Ridgefield, Washington, and sisters Darlene (Wes) Ulbricht of Moses Lake, Washington, and Rachel (Fred) Clark of Walla Walla, Washington, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was deeply loved by her family, including seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Her lifetime passions were reading and quilting. Until the last few years, Lyla quilted dozens of beautiful children’s quilts every year to be included in Christmas mission boxes sent overseas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, five sisters, and three brothers.

The family would like to thank the St. Peter’s Health Hospice staff for their loving care, encouragement and guidance during the last three months of Lyla’s care. A family memorial service is being planned for a later date.