Denise V. McFarland passed away peacefully on September 30th, 2023 in Stevensville, MT.
Denise was born February 19th, 1936 in Bemidji, MN to Lois Hopkins Verbrugghen and Philippe Corneille Verbrugghen. Her first home was a log cabin her father built 26 miles north of Park Rapids, MN where he raised sheep. Denise attended Guttersen Grade School and Murray High School in St. Paul, MN. She majored in zoology with a chemistry minor at Hamline University, earning her diploma in three years. She completed a medical technology internship at Ramsey County General Hospital in St. Paul where she passed the American Society of Clinical Pathology exam, becoming a lifelong member of that organization. She then became a resident clinician teaching veterinary clinical hematology at the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary medicine.
After a year of travel to Europe and Australia, including a ride on the maiden voyage of the ship Canberra, Denise returned to the University of Minnesota where she met her future husband, William D. McFarland, Jr. They married in 1963 and moved to Livingston, MT, where their son Warner was born. After a year they moved to Bill’s hometown of Fort Benton and established the Benton Veterinary Clinic. Son Garret and daughter Kyla completed the family. Denise managed the veterinary clinic while raising her children. She was extremely involved in their education and never missed an athletic or musical event.
A member of the Montana Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary, Denise served a term as all of its officers, including president. She was also an AVMA delegate for eight years. She was a member of the Fort Benton Community Bible Church and a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She volunteered at the Civic Center in Great Falls, MT and was a longtime supporter of the Great Falls Symphony.
After Bill died in 2013, she moved to the Living Centre in Stevensville, MT to be near family. Her family is thankful to The Living Centre of Stevensville for the friendships she made there and especially for the compassionate care she received.
Denise was preceded in death by her parents, husband, William D. McFarland Jr., brother, Henri Verbrugghen, and granddaughter, Nicole L. McFarland.
Denise is survived by her children, Warner (Amy) Rawlins, WY; Garret (Tammie) Miles City, MT; Kyla Morton, Corvallis, MT. Grandchildren Adam McFarland (Anastasia), Rawlins, WY; William McFarland, Boise, ID; Catie Moudy (Austin), Casper, WY; Ben McFarland (fiancee Mariah Stoltz) Helena, MT; Anne-Marie Gardner (Matthew), Greeley CO; Bailey Morton, Corvallis, MT; Kellyn Morton, Missoula, MT; Olivia Morton, Missoula, MT; great-grandchildren Adelaide, Moira, and Warner.