June Lora Beirwagen passed away on Saturday July 26, 2025, at the Big Sandy Medical Center in Big Sandy, Montana. June was buried alongside her husband Louis, of 70 years. The family invites you to a memorial service August 23, 2025, at Christ Lutheran Church at 1:30 pm in Big Sandy. Her family has suggested that memorial donations be made in June's memory to Lutheran World Relief, Big Sandy Medical Center, or Christ Lutheran Church. Please, visit June's online memorial page for more information, to send a card, or to leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.bentonfh.com.
June was born on June 5, 1930, in Fort Benton to Adolph and Flora (Lichtenberg) Zanto, the youngest of twelve children. Raised on their farm near Highwood, June grew up in a lively, hardworking environment. In her junior and senior years of Highwood High School, she and her twin sister Jean lived independently in their family home in town nearer school, while continuing to excel in their studies and to earn money babysitting. Continuing her education at Montana State University, June earned her bachelor's degree in home economics with a certificate in teaching. Going on to teach high school in Big Sandy, she attended Christ Lutheran the first weekend, where she met Louis Beirwagen. In 1953, they married and together created their home on his family farm outside of Loma. There, June put her home economics excellence to work for the multitude of farm responsibilities, like cooking for the crews, as well as raising their four children.
June enjoyed gardening, quilting, wheat weaving, family history, and collecting stamps and angels. In her neighborhood, she enjoyed the local Hobby Club. As a faithful member of Christ Lutheran, she served in endless ways, including decades providing Lutheran World Relief kits with warm quilts. Her family remembers her as a smart, strong, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, making occasions special and creating an atmosphere in which they'd linger for hours at the kitchen table visiting. She valued time with her family, and her funny quick-witted observations fueled laughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Beirwagen; parents, Adolph and Flora Zanto; and siblings, Harold, Bernice, Olga, Josephine, Ernest, Robert, Mable, Doris, Elmer, Elva, and twin sister, Jean.
June is survived by her children, Diane (Joel Westby) Beirwagen of Moorhead, MN, Duane (Irina) Beirwagen of Loma, Cherie (Stephen) Stiles of Big Sandy, Karen (Doug) Baker of Byron Center, MI; grandchildren, Micah Westby, Maren Westby, Leah Westby, Philip Westby, Levi Beirwagen, Jacob Beirwagen, Victoria Sparks-Lowry, Noelle Beirwagen, Kristopher Stiles, Sierra Lindquist, and Bradley Baker; 19 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.
