Anne Hoene

Anne Katherine Kuth Hoene, age 93, died of natural causes on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at her home in Billings.Anne was born on April 5, 1916, in Duluth, Minnesota. Her parents were Dr. Joseph Robert Kuth and Katherine Mary Fiebiger Kuth. She had two brothers, Edward Joseph and Robert Andrew Kuth, both of whom are deceased. Anne was preceded in death by her husband of forty-nine years, Howard Frederick Hoene, who died at age 79, and her daughter, Josephine Kuth Hoene.Growing up in Duluth, Anne attended Holy Rosary Grade School and then Villa Sancta Scholastica High School. She was president of her class throughout high school. She was a girl scout for five years and spent five years as a volunteer scout leader. She fondly remembered trips with her family during her youth to Lake Sissybaquet in northern Minnesota.Anne graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in History. In college she was president of her senior class. After graduation she obtained a Medical Records Librarian degree from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.Adventurous and independent in spirit, Anne had a yearning for travel. She toured the United States alone in her early 20's by train, on her own money. She traveled from Duluth to the west coast, south to California, east across the southern United States, up the east coast, and then back to Duluth. Her desire for travel and to see the world led her on several international trips later in life.Ann lived, as a young woman, in Bakersfield, California, where she worked at Mercy Hospital as a medical records librarian. She then lived in San Diego and worked in the same occupation.At age 26 she married Howard Hoene on September 5, 1942, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Anne and Howard spent their early married years in Duluth. They moved to Billings in 1953 with their five children. Their family grew to include four more children.Devastated by the death of Josie, their fourth child, after moving to Billings, Anne displayed great courage in persevering and raising the other eight children with all of the energy and enthusiasm she had. Even after the Hoene children were grown and had left the family home, it continued to be the center, the meeting place, the heart of the family.Anne was active in the Billings Junior League for many years and was a charter member. She enjoyed recreational bridge throughout her life in Billings, earning master points and achieving an advanced status. Anne and Howard were also charter members of the Yellowstone Country Club.At approximately age 60 Anne earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from the Gonzaga University in Billings program. Dedicated to bringing the program's values to the Billings community she also worked for five years as its Registrar.In 1975 Anne traveled to Italy, Greece, and Cairo, Egypt. This was followed by trips to Ireland on two occasions, and a second trip to Italy. On a three week pilgrimage to Israel she was invited as the only lay person among a group of clergy, led by Father Armand Nigro of Gonzaga University. Anne and Howard traveled together on trips to Mexico, the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver Island and Seattle. Anne much enjoyed the Columbia Ice Fields and Seattle's underground city.Anne was a lifelong lover of opera. She traveled to the Twin Cities on numerous occasions to attend the Metropolitan Opera season. Through her operatic interests and related travels she exposed her children to this art form. As regular as clock-work on Saturday mornings the sounds of opera on National Public Radio emanated from her kitchen throughout the Hoene household. Anne introduced her children to other arts---enrolling them in ballet and various musical instrument instruction.Anne and Howard purchased a time share condominium in Red Lodge, Montana. This became a retreat she and her children enjoyed for years. After Howard's death on January 18, 1991, Anne remained in her home in Billings. During the later years of her life she took great joy from time spent with her children and grandchildren.Anne is survived in death by her children: Howard Hoene, Katherine Hoene, Mary Decker, Vera (Mark) Werner, Barbara (Paul) Fenter, of Billings, Mark Hoene of Spokane WA, Arthur Hoene of Washington, D.C., and Lisa Steckel of Moscow, ID. Anne is also survived by her nine grandchildren: Paul (Romita) Sillitti of Chicago, Illinois, John Sillitti of Belgrade, Leah (John) Nusse of Portland, Oregon, Eric Dahlin of Bozeman, Katie Dahlin of Portland, Oregon, Edward Werner of Missoula, Joey, John and Will Werner of Billings. She is also survived by three great grand children.Anne was a fulfilled mother, devoted to the raising of her children. She was a woman of substance, spiritual depth, practical wisdom, keen intellect, relentless curiosity and had a thirst for knowledge. She accomplished much and gave of herself, generous with her time, energy and material resources. Her love, her influence, her abilities, and her values touched many people positively and deeply. At peace in her last months and days, she left this life gracefully, in the manner that she lived.Visitation Sun 1:00 to 5:00, Mon 10:00 to 5:00, Tue 10:00 to 8:00 at Dahl Chapel. Vigil Tue 7:00 p.m. at Dahl Chapel. Funeral Mass Wed 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Rite of Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery with luncheon to follow at St. Thomas. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com.