Laura Inez Running Instness

HAMILTON – Laura Inez Running Instness, 102, left her earthly home to join other loved ones in her Heavenly home on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Robert E. and Emma Melissa Schad Baker; her husbands, L. Willard Running and Lyle J. Instness; her siblings, Earl Baker, Kenneth Baker, Eunice Johnson, Dorothy Krohmer, Robert (Bob) Baker and (Dick) Richard (Shirley) Baker; her granddaughter, Julie Heim; great-granddaughter, Hannah Jenson and great-grandson, Zachariah Silvah.

Laura’s surviving relatives include her brother, Donald Baker of Bonner’s Ferry, ID; her four children, Lauraine W. Bourne of Hamilton, MT, Sheila M. (Darrell) Heim of Williamsburg, VA, Wanda L. Johnson of Hamilton, MT/Othello, WA and son, (Bill) Willard L. (Elaine) Running, farmers from the Galata, MT area; 3 step-children, Dennis Instness of Rio Linda, CA, Richard (Julie) Instness of Citrus Heights, CA and Jeannine (Robert) Rath of Auburn, CA.  Laura has 11 surviving grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her beloved niece, Mary Baker Johnson, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.  Also, she will be dearly missed by very close friends, Nancy Bach Bussiere, Becky Grimm and Ruth Casey, along with numerous other friends.

Laura was born in Froid, MT on July 15, 1922.  Upon her marriage to Willard Running on January 9, 1942, she moved to Williston, ND.  Laura worked as a nurse’s aid in the hospital nursery.  She loved babies and dearly loved her job.  In October of 1949, the family moved to our acreage in Northwest Montana.  Laura always had a monstrous garden.  It was a family affair to tend to the garden.  Laura married her teenage boyfriend, Lyle Instness on April 2, 1988, bringing her to Hamilton, MT.  The two loved playing music and singing at many venues in the Hamilton area.  Lyle played guitar and Laura played the tambourine.

In latter years, Laura loved attending the United Methodist American Baptist church.  She also enjoyed going to the Hamilton Senior Center for lunches and visiting.

A funeral service will be held for Laura at the United Methodist American Baptist Church in Hamilton on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 2:00 pm with a reception following in the Daly-Leach Chapel Community Room.  A graveside service will be held at the Grandview Cemetery in Bonner’s Ferry, ID on April 30, 2025 at 2:30 pm.  This location will be Laura’s final resting place.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.