Florence W. Hunt

Florence W. Hunt, 91, of Hamilton, Montana, died Monday, April 11, 2011, at the Marcus Daly Hospice and Palliative Care Center. Born June 1st, 1919, in Greens Creek, North Carolina, she was the daughter of Robert Lee Collins and Verna Rae Norville.

She was a kind, generous and loving wife and mother who enjoyed the company of family and friends. She loved arts and crafts, camping, hunting, fishing and the outdoors in general. She and her husband, John E (Jack) Hunt, were always involved in some form of charitable activity or fund raising function and were participants in many community events.

Florence met and married her first husband, Joseph C. Banar Sr. in 1940 in Detroit, Michigan and had one child, Joseph C. Banar. In 1960 the family moved to Santa Ana California. Following her first husband's death in 1963, Florence met and married John E (Jack) Hunt in 1967. Jack brought 4-sons from a previous marriage to the union, Thomas, John, David and Daniel. They lived in both Fresno and Bakersfield, California. While on a vacation Jack and Florence came to the Bitterroot Valley and decided that this was where they wanted to retire. In 1988 they moved to Darby, Montana, where they made many close friends, enjoyed outdoor activities and participated in civic functions.

Ill health forced them to move to Hamilton in 2001 to be closer to medical care. During the last years both Florence and John were residents of Valley View Estates. While there, both were continuously visited and cared for by Florence's daughter-in-law Rachel Hunt.

Florence is survived by her step-sons, David, John and Tom Hunt; daughter-in-law, Rachel Hunt; son, Joseph C. Banar and wife Tamara R Wells-Banar; and granddaughter, Alethea Kaye Banar.

The family suggests that instead of flowers a donation to a favorite charity would be appreciated.