Stevensville – Agnes Irene Kampen passed away on November 21, 2015 at The Living Center in Stevensville, MT just 13 days after her 94th birthday with Dale, Teri, and Shawn Fellon at her side. Family and friends will always remember her cooking ability, especially her home baked breads and “dunkin’” donuts. The coffee pot was always on with fresh made goodies to accompany your cup of coffee.
Agnes was born at Outlook, Montana on November 8, 1921 to James Albert (Burt) and Martha Goltz Grove. She attended school at Outlook walking a half mile to her grandparents’ place to meet the bus. She began working for area farmers including Ray Stoner and Gust Wagner as a cook. While cooking for Gust Wagner’s crew of 20 workers, she met the love of her life, Melvin Kampen, in 1941. They were married on April 10, 1942 and shared life together for the next 69 years. Agnes was a real farm wife, swathing hay, summer fallowing, and milking cows while still finding time to serve home cooked meals complete with dessert. Agnes and Melvin enjoyed their camping trips to visit relatives in the Petersburg, North Dakota area and their trips with nieces and nephews, especially their yearly adventure to Medora. Her years square dancing remained a fond memory. She was a long time member of Golden Valley Ladies Aid and a member of Highland Lutheran Church at Outlook.
After Melvin’s death in 2010, Agnes moved into Pioneer Manor in Plentywood with her cat Tiger. In 2013, her Alzheimer’s disease forced her to move to the Missoula area to be close to family. The highlights of Agnes’ last days were her 94th birthday party and the visit from Melvin’s relatives, Dorcus and Lloyd Schmidt of Oslo, MN.
Agnes has joined Melvin, her parents, brothers Elmer, Clarence, Albert, Walter and sisters Alice, Ellen, Vera, Esther, and Bertha. She is survived by her sister Laura (Tootie) Kampen, and nieces and nephews Mary Ann and Frank Fowells, Carol and Jim Watson, Jeanie Kampen, Myrna Kampen, Lorraine Gillispie, Jerry and Phyllis Lindblom, Elnora Schnittgen, Joanne Schnittgen, Myrna and Terry Kanning, Maxine and Eldon Wahl, Laura and Fred Phillips, Rita Bershears, Dale and Teri Fellon and by her great nieces and nephews and their families. Close friends Dennis and Donna Eide, Roger Nelson, and Curt Flakne are special members of Agnes’ family.
Cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial service for Agnes in June 2016 in Outlook/Plentywood. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.