Missoula – Frances Josephine McDonald, 89, passed away January 20, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. Frances was born in Strabane, Northern Ireland, May 3, 1928 to Bernard and Margaret Devine. She grew up in Castlederg near her birthplace. Frances is the fourth youngest of six siblings.
She attended nursing school at the Royal College of Midwives in London, England 1953. She moved to United States and married Lorenz Josef Wustner on February 15, 1955. They lived in Missoula and later divorced in 1967.
Upon moving to the US, she worked as a nurse in Ob/Gyn (delivering babies) 25 years and oncology wards for 10 years. She worked at Community Hospital and St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula over the span of 25 years.
On May 5, 1979, she married Willard McDonald, in White Sulphur Springs. They lived there, then on Lolo Creek, the Burnt Fork area, and then moved into the town of Stevensville. Willard passed away, October 17, 1996. Frances continued to live in Stevensville until in 2016 she moved to Rosetta assisted living center in Missoula.
She attended mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and took a trip with the church to Jerusalem in 2006.
Frances was a dedicated mother and grandmother. She diligently put on family gatherings for holidays and always cooked huge feasts for these occasions. She was always outside tending her garden and taking walks.
Frances is survived by her sons Jerry, Bertram, and Patrick, her sisters Pat and Jean, and her grandchildren Sam, Jake, Laina, John, Joe, Jessica and Anthony.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stevensville. Interment followed the service in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.