Marlene Kay Byrd, also known to many as Punkie, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, very early in the morning of February 7, 2016.

Marlene has resided in Helena area nursing homes for the past 10 years. Marlene was born September 28, 1938 to Monty and Alice Richmond and spent her early years on a farm east of Sunburst, MT. She also spent many happy hours with family and friends at the Sweet Grass Hills. Marlene attended Sunburst schools from grade school through high school.

She married her high school sweetheart, Terry Meagher, and the two saw the joy of 4 daughters born to them. Marlene (Punkie) and Terry worked in the family grocery store and many busy years followed. Marlene and Terry later divorced in 1976. Though the hills of life are often rough and stony and the valleys often cold, Marlene’s crowning achievement was giving life to four amazing daughters, who she is survived by: Teri Mundahl (Mike) of Billings, MT; Lori Mann (Louis) of Sutherlin, OR; Nancy Gartner (Jim) of Santa Ana, CA; and Jodi Lindgren (Scott) of Helena, MT. May the lives touched, helped and changed by Marlene’s legacy be ever grateful for her life.

Marlene is also survived by her sister Donna Anderson, 3 half-brothers: Mike Richmond, Randy Richmond and Rick Richmond; grandchildren: Zachary Mundahl, Nathan Mundahl, Terry Mann, Ted Mann, Rachel Mann, Sarah Mann, Christopher Gartner, Jenna Gartner, Georgia Lindgren and Samuel Lindgren; as well as numerous great grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating Marlene’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will immediately follow the memorial service in the social hall of the funeral home. Memorials in Marlene’s name are suggested to Frontier Home Health & Hospice, 800 Front St., Helena, MT 59601.