June 23rd, 2021

Sheila Keirnes - March 11, 1947 - May 5, 2021
Sheila Keirnes was born to Guy & Helen (Wood) Keirnes in Missoula, MT, on March 11, 1947. Sheila was warmly welcomed by two big brothers, Bill & Gary and numerous cousins. Sheila was a beautiful, bright light addition to the family. Sheila lived with her family in Hall, MT. Helen loved to dress Sheila up in frilly dresses and entered her in many beautiful baby contests and later in pageants. Sheila won first place in two of the beauty pageants. She attended grade school in Hall. Sheila was a very headstrong, stubborn, outdoorsy girl and spent her childhood sledding, swimming, boating, bicycling, roller-skating, ice skating, horseback riding and dancing with her brothers and the Hunt and Olsson children in Hall. Later, Sheila and her family moved to Richland, WA where she attended high school.
Sheila met Homer Blackburn in Richland. Homer and Sheila got married and moved back to Granite County, where they resided at the Stone house. From this marriage, Sheila was blessed with three boys: Wayne, Daren and Shawn.
In the early 1970s, Sheila and Helen went in as partners and bought the Turf Bar in Drummond. After the Turf closed in 1986, Sheila worked various jobs including bartending, cooking & waiting tables in a local restaurant. In the late 1990s Sheila went to work for Helen at Stockman’s Bar in Hall after her mom broke her hip. Sheila eventually took over the bar due to her mother’s declining health issues. Sheila loved Stockman’s. She loved to visit with her customers, getting to know all the new ones, each of them by name. She loved watching the school children play outside at recess from the bar window. 
She loved to visit with the school children when they came over for a Roy Rogers or Shirley Temple. They gave her such delight. Sheila supported all the many activities the Hall school children participated in. Sheila also liked to watch the dog agility competitions at the Hall school. Sheila was an avid horsewoman. She spent many years riding out for several local ranchers helping gather and move cows with her horses. Sheila loved to read and kept up on all the news.
Sheila had a passion for all animals. Throughout her life, she had lots of pets including a unique monkey named Margie, a donkey named Elwood (that ended up in a delightful article in the Missoulian newspaper), several horses, several precious dogs - including her most recent dog, her beloved Gypsy - along with many cats as her furry friends. Any stray animal always found a place in her heart and home. 
Sheila had lots of friends and strategically placed a few good friends in her life. Since she has passed, we have found each one of us had a specific purpose that she leaned on us for. Her family had the assurance she was being looked after by good friends.
Although she was extremely private about her personal life, Sheila was a cancer survivor. She encountered many injustices through her life’s path, but with a forgiving heart, she and her spirit persevered. Sheila dared to be her own person and make a difference in the world. Sheila was a compassionate, kind and loving soul. Her grandson Ben stated that there were not enough words to honestly describe her. She would do anything she could for anyone, unless you got on her bad side! And if you did, she would let you know how she felt. At times, Sheila could be a bit of a rebel!! We were blessed to have had her in our lives.
Sheila is proceeded in death by her parents, ns Wayne Blackburn, Daren Blackburn, Shawn Blackburn and brother Bill Powell.
Sheila is survived by her brother Gary (Sandy) Powell, niece Sarah Powell, daughter-in-law Martha Blackburn, grandsons Inez (Amber) Blackburn, Shawn (Adriana) Blackburn, grandson Benjamin (Leah) Schechtman, granddaughter Brandi (Stephan) Seamons, great-grandchildren Jon, Alina, Caden, Nevaeh, Forrest, Sadi, and Mattis, dear cousin Sandy Opp and her many close friends. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday July 3, 2021, at Stockman’s Bar in Hall at 5pm, potluck dinner.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Bitterroot Humane Association, 262 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, MT 59840 or to an animal rescue of your choice.

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Summer Johnson - September17, 1999 - October 1, 2020
Summer was born in Belcourt, ND and was a proud member of Turtle Mountain Tribe. 
After struggling with the death of her sister, Summer passed away in the early hours of October on the anniversary of her sister’s death.
Summer loved music and playing guitar. She loved animals, and helping people when she could.
She is survived by her mother Wanda VanGilder.

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