Obituary Flora I. Montana

Flora I. Montana
3-14-1938 ~ 2-8-2013
Flora I. Montana, entered into rest, February 8, 2013 at the Spanish Peaks Regional Medical Center in Walsenburg, CO. She was born, March 14, 1938 in Tioga, CO, to Filomena and Joe T. Valdez. She was 74 years of age.
Flora was the ninth child out of twelve. She attended Walsenburg schools, received her G.E.D. and later attended Adam State college where she received her degree in Food Service Management. On August 14, 1954, she married the love of her life Ernest “Ernie” Montana and to this union came four children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Flora worked odd jobs, cleaning houses for various people before becoming employed as a Food Service Manager and Head Cook for the RE-1 School District, John Mall High School, retiring in 1999, due to a massive stroke which left her paralyzed.
Flora was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved, cared and worried about everyone, but the most important were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In Flora’s younger days, she and Ernie loved to dance. They were always known as “The first couple on the floor.” She enjoyed watching the Bronco games, her Novelas, reading the newspapers, she was a devoted fan and watched “General Hospital” for over 50 years.
Flora is preceded in death by her loving husband, Ernest “Ernie” Montana; son, Ernest Lee Montana, Jr.; parents, Joe T. and Filomena Valdez; in-laws, Leo and Emma Montana; siblings and in-laws, Henry Valdez, Rosella Gomez, Ernestine (John) DeHerrera, Ben (Bernice) Valdez, Ross Cruz, Millie (Max) DeHerrera, Ray Valdez, Joe T. (Millie) Valdez, JR., Liz (Oris) Tenorio, Dimas Vialpando and Bob Valdez.
Survived by loving and devoted daughter, Sheryl (Ted) Pineda of Walsenburg; sons, Kirk Montana of Colorado Springs, Jamie (Tonya) Montana of Fort Collins; grandchildren, Alicia (Daniel), Emily (Darrell), Stephanie (Andrew) and Curtis Montana, all of Colorado Springs, Michael and River Montana of Fort Collins; great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Aiden and Bailey of Colorado Springs; sisters, Frances Cruz of Walsenburg and Eleanor Vialpando of Colorado Springs; brother in-law, Carl Gomez of Pueblo as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her dog DeDe.
A visitation will be held from 11 am until 1 pm, followed by a funeral service at 1 pm, Thursday, February 14, 2013 at the New Hope Community Church, followed by a burial at the Masonic Cemetery in Walsenburg.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the  Johnson-Romero Funeral Home.