BLACK EAGLE —Katherine Chovanak, 68, of Black Eagle, passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2015.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Katherine was born on February 18, 1947 in Plainfield, New Jersey to Albert and Mary (Bubenas) Gailushas. The family moved to East Helena, MT and she attended school at St. Ann's in East Helena and graduated in 1965 from Helena High School. Katherine then received her associate's degree at Helena Commercial College in accounting. She went to work for the State of Montana in the GVW division as an accountant. Katherine married Roger Chovanak in 1972 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Helena. The family moved to Great Falls in 1973. They had three daughters, Angela, Patricia and Kathleen. She worked for the Heritage Inn as a controller for 35 years. Katherine was then employed for Cascade County as the head accountant in 2009 until present. Katherine is survived by her mother, Mary Gailushas of Helena; husband Roger Chovanak of Black Eagle; daughters Angela (Chris) Pettibone and Kathleen (Josh) Chovanak both of Black Eagle; brother Bert Gailushas; sisters Patricia (John) Verbanac, Rosemarie Pouliot and Theresa (Melissa) Gailushas; grandchildren Lisa, Zach, Khristian, Jaydence and Case; and two great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her father, Albert Gailushas; daughter Patricia; and brother-in-law Dan Pouliot. Memorials in Katherine's name may be made to the Sletten Cancer Institute, 1117 29th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405.Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.

Published in Great Falls Tribune on July 12, 2015