- Date Of Birth: February 9, 1911
- Date Of Death: January 28, 2009
- State: Montana
Laura “Jo” Measure died peacefully Wednesday evening January 28th, 2009 in the company of family at her residence in Kalispell, Montana. Laura Jo Forhan was born the second child of (Great Northern) conductor William S. Forhan and the former telegrapher Hermine (Merker) Forhan in Whitefish on February 9, 1911.
Within a few years the family moved to Paola Creek (this side of Essex) where the family ran the Mercantile while William was on the railroad. In those days, the highway (a dirt road) ended just past Columbia Falls, but Laura Jo would often venture up the tracks and down to the mouth of Park Creek (about 4 miles) for the “best” fishing. This was the beginning of a lifetime love of wild country.
The family moved to 4th Avenue West in Kalispell where Laura Jo attended the nearby primary and high school. After graduation she hiked into the present day Bob Marshall Wilderness with her favorite teacher Grace Baldwin and three friends and spent two months exploring the backcountry.
The Depression and family finances brought her back to Montana where she worked for the Department of Public Welfare as a Social Worker, one year in Anaconda and five years in Kalispell. In 1940 she married Ambrose Measure, a local attorney. Both had played in the Flathead High Orchestra. Ambrose died in 2000.
Laura Jo is survived by their four children Loraine Measure of Bigfork, Dr. Edward Measure and his wife Rorie of Los Cruces, New Mexico, Susanne M. O’Connor of Kalispell and Bruce Measure of Kalispell, eight grandchildren Daren Bundrock, Steven Bundrock, Lori Bundrock, Scott O’Connor, Erin O’Connor, Buck Measure, Alex Measure, and Eric Measure, five great grandsons and one great granddaughter, her sister Margaret “Peg” Smith of Kalispell and her brother Rudy Forhan of Tucson, AZ; she is also survived by her very dear friend Jeanette James of Kalispell, MT.
She maintained a lifelong love of learning, hiking, art, literature and crafts of all kinds. She was an accomplished seamstress, gardener and chef, and loved her cabin at Little Bitterroot Lake.
A gifted writer and storyteller, Laura Jo published a craft book and short stories, many after age 75
She deeply loved her friend’s and family and delighted in God’s beautiful world and its people.
Laura Jo was preceded in death by her parents, 4 sisters, Midge & Sally Forhan, Florence Tetler, and Nelle Hartley, and two brothers Ed and Buzz Forhan.
