Mary Elnora (Nora) St. John
Mary Elnora (Nora) St. John died peacefully at home on January
24, 2010
following a brief and courageous battle with cancer. She was born
December
3, 1922
at the family farm in Steinauer, Nebraska to Robert and Mary Pfister.
She attended the University of Nebraska on a Regent's scholarship
and upon graduation taught country school in Johnson County,
Nebraska. She then graduated from St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas
City, Missouri in 1946 as a member of the Cadet Corps with an
Associate's Degree in Nursing. Nora met her future husband while
practicing nursing in Beatrice, Nebraska. She was married to the
Reverend Canon E.A. St. John on August
1, 1949.
Nora practiced nursing in Beatrice, Valentine, and Fairbury,
Nebraska prior to the family moving to Helena, Montana in
1964. She became
one of the first Coronary Care Nurses in the state of Montana, while
nursing at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena. They moved to Havre in
1972,
and then to Billings in 1982. Nora worked at St. Vincent's Hospital
until her retirement in 1987. Being faithful to God first in her
life, she was always a dedicated wife and mother to her family, with
one of her greatest joys, time spent with her grandchildren.
Her memberships include St. Luke's and St. Stephen's Episcopal
Church Women, St. Luke's Altar Guild, and Daughter's of the King.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, the Very Reverend Canon
E. A. St. John, sister, Magdalene Pfister, brothers Edward and
Charles Pfister. She is survived by Grace Pfister, Melinda Holcombe
(Lauren), Lu Ackerman, (Bruce) and John Pfister (Sigrun). Children;
Mary McCall, Robert St. John (Aera), Jim St. John (Jo).
Grandchildren; Magdalene McCall, William McCall, Jedidiah St. John,
Jessie Kamphouse, Julie Garcia, Jennifer Chastek, Kristin St. John
and Kari St. John, great grandchildren; Celeste, Sloane, Wyatt,
Elisa, Allegra, James, Joey and many numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, February 3, at 11:00 am, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke's or St. Stephens in Billings and Riverstone Hospice.
Remembrances
Please leave your name and remembrance in this public guest book. Your comments will be shared on this page and forwarded to the family.
This isn't something I am very good at. Mary, Jim, & Jo, Sorry for your loss.
Jim Moody
I was saddened to see that Mrs. St. John had passed away. She was a favorite client of mine at Community Pet Hospital where I was privileged to treat her pets. I will remember her as a conscientious, loving pet owner and a friend. She will be missed by many. Take comfort in knowing that her future is safely in the hands of a loving, merciful God, Jehovah.
With sincere sympathy,
H. Craig Kiner