Erma Mast

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Erma Viola Mast passed from this life on Sept 17, 2009 in the same way she had lived it with beauty and grace. She is now in the loving arms of her heavenly father. Visitation will be held at the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. on Friday, September 25, 2009 with the family-receiving friends from 6: 00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Glendive Alliance Church in Glendive with Pastor Neville Peterson officiating. Interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery at Intake, Montana. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Erma was born March 28, 1924 at Round Hill, Alberta, Canada the fifth of six children born to David Elmer Maurer and Anna Clara Stauffer Maurer. Erma was raised on a farm near Tofield, Alberta and throughout her life enjoyed the marvels of nature and the love of family and friends. In 1952 Erma married Frank Mast and moved to Kalispell, Montana. To this union two children were born; Darrel in 1956 and Marilyn in 1958. In 1962, Frank left and Erma and the children were suddenly on their own. Erma carried on with strength she credited to God. First working at the hospital in Kalispell, but quickly deciding she needed further education in order to provide for herself and her children. With only an eighth grade education, Erma took and passed her GED test, applied and was accepted to attend Northern Montana College in Havre. With her children uppermost in her thoughts, she chose to study education and by taking extra credits and summer classes obtained her Bachelor’s degree in three instead of the usual four years. Erma was offered a job teaching first grade at Jefferson Elementary School in Glendive and for the next 22 years Room 2 was hers. Hundreds of students passed through her classroom door and were blessed to begin their education as her pupils. Glendive became Erma’s home and White Chapel Mennonite Church her place of worship. She was actively involved in the church and served as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and spent many years on the Church Board. She was generous with both her time and money and taught her children not only about giving faithfully to the church, but by her example about loving and serving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. From a young age Erma loved to paint. Her early paintings were of mountains and lakes, but as she gained confidence by attending art classes the subjects of her paintings expanded, and her favorite subject became scenes from her Alberta childhood. These paintings cover activities such as making soap, drowning gophers and robbing crows’ nest. She also incorporated her love of art into the school classroom by presenting works of the masters to her students and asking them to describe what was happening in the picture (often with hilarious results). In recent years she had been actively involved at the Gallery and enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow artists she found there. Other community activities included volunteering with the hospital auxiliary. Erma especially enjoyed working at the Attic. She is survived by her children, Darrel Mast and his wife Esther of Lancaster, PA; Marilyn Green and her husband Barry of Glendive; six grandchildren: Crystal Green Zwicke and her husband, Pete, of Glendive, Lisa Green, Heather Green and Darren Green all of Glendive, Elizabeth Mast and Nathan Mast of Lancaster, PA; two great grandchildren: Brock and Vanessa Zwicke of Glendive; two of her sisters: Edna Good of Carstairs, Alberta and Freda Voegtlin of Edson, Alberta and by her only brother, John Maurer of Tofield, Alberta. Her parents and two sisters, Mildred Buschart and Lorene Wideman preceded her in death. Erma is also survived by her dear friend and kindred spirit, Don Doane, many close friends; including Lowell and Lynn Stevenson and their children, Scott, Daniel, Laura and Janna; her church family at White Chapel and most recently the staff at GMC Extended Care. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com

Erma Mast

March 28, 1924 - September 26, 2009

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

Erma Mast

March 28, 1924 - September 26, 2009

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support