Ione (Kirkaldie) Snell

Ione (Toast) Kirkaldie Snell passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026. A wake will be held on Friday, April 3rd at 5:00pm with the rosary being said at 7:00pm. The funeral will be Saturday, April 4th at 11:00am.  Both services will be held at the Mission Recreation Center in Hays, Montana.

Ione was born on June 11th, 1958 to Thomas and Shirley Kirkaldie. She was the youngest of three children. Ione grew up in Hays, Montana and graduated from the Hays/Lodgepole High School. Ione loved to spend time with her great-grandmother, Isabel Werk, where she gained much knowledge and experience about being a caregiver. Ione grew close to all her cousins and took them in as siblings. Ione loved nothing more than doing for others. She valued family more than anything and was always ready to make a friend. Ione was a faithful Catholic and participated in the church. She taught religious classes with her friend, Sister Laura. Her other friend in the church was Harley Morin. The three spent many years serving the community through the church. 

        Ione was married to the love of her life, Raymond Snell, in 1982 until he passed in 2021. Ione worked many jobs throughout her life. She loved to tell stories about working her first job in her auntie and uncle’s restaurant in Omaha, NE. A true nurturer at heart, Ione worked many years as a personal caregiving assistant. She was known for her beadwork and wonderful cooking. Ione loved to cook for others. She joked that she cooked for an army and didn’t know any other way because her house was always full of people. Ione and Raymond were known for their generosity and willingness to help others whenever they could and they instilled that into their children. The pair also made many friends throughout their lives. They often spent many hours in conversation with a passing friend, or soon to be friend. Later in life she made a special friend Benny Pitkanen, and the two continued making friends and taking care of each other.

        Ione Kirkaldie Snell is preceded in death by her grandparents; father, Thomas Kirkaldie; mother, Shirley Plummer Kirkaldie; sister, Patricia Kirkaldie; son, Wesley Kirkaldie; husband, Raymond Snell; nieces; Clarissa and Andrea Eagleman, infant nieces and nephew.

        Ione is survived by her brother, Arlen “Lil’ Tom” (Barbara) Kirkaldie; children, Wendy, Coshaunn (Dianna), Darren (Mella), Julie (Kona); grandchildren, Walt, Isaiah, Alex, Destani, LaChey, Cassidy, Brielle, Rayleigh, Coshaunn Jr., Jordyn, Taya, Azalea; great grandchildren, Aiden Flansburg; and Saul Wesley Jiron; special friend, Benjamin Pitkanen; many close cousins and friends who she loved dearly and considered adopted siblings and grandchildren.

        Ione loved life and was a caregiver to many people. She was a strong woman who never let her health determine her attitude towards life. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed!

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