All in the family

A ninetieth birthday celebration was held for Madlon Brence on August 18th at St. Joan of Arc Parish Hall in Ekalaka. Madlon turns 90 on October 7, but the family wanted to ensure that this celebration would be as special as the birthday girl because her last big birthday celebration (85th) was drastically altered by an early snowstorm.

A family dinner was held at noon on Saturday and everyone who attended had worked up an appetite after two hours of picture taking. A picture of Madlon's late husband, Bill, and many of the grandchildren at his seventy-fifth birthday party was recreated with Madlon and the same grandchildren. There was a lot of laughter as the grandchildren have grown up and it took some creativity to position everyone properly. Many friends and neighbors came by later in the afternoon to visit with Madlon and her family. Three different kinds of cake and ice cream were served to those in attendance.

All eight of Brence's children were in attendance with their families: Dave and Barb Brence, St. Onge, SD with Dave's children Troy and Bill Brence, Camp Crook, and Amanda Johnson of Rapid City; Dean Massa (Linda) and Jeff, Deana, Gwen and Josie Wolfe, Hamilton, MT; Kathy Keneally of Billings; Jeri and Roger Thieme, Colorado Springs, and their children Richard, Stephanie, and Will Thieme, Castle Rock, CO, and Michael and Nicole Thieme, Fort Collins, CO.; Charlie and Gail Brence, Mill Iron and their children, John, Karlin, Bailee, Emma, Katherine, and Charlee Brence, Powell, WY, Sarah and Trey Brence and friend Josh Buxbaum, Fairview, MT, Leah Brence, Terry, MT, and Greg, Brittani, and Claire Brence, Mill Iron; Paul and Nancy Brence, Ekalaka, and their children Seth, Angela and Wyatt Sedgewick, Ekalaka, and Emily Vennes, Plevna; Terri Sullivan, Yuba City, CA, and her daughters, Kristin Hayworth, and son Tycho, Red Bluff, CA and Katie Sullivan, Orland, CA; Randy and Lori Turnbough, Broadus, and their children, Katrina, Sophia and Sam Lombard, Thermopolis, WY, Monte and Colton Turnbough, Wright, WY and fiancé, Abby Tille, and son Bridger, Casper, WY; Eli Turnbough and friend Adam Koenig, Chicago IL, Jarrett Turnbough and Aubry Gray, Torrington, WY, and Lee Turnbough, Broadus; Larry, Shannon, Meghan, Lindsay, and Hannah Brence, Miles City, MT.

Eli and Adam brought Robin Hill's children Tyler, Brady and Drew Hill, Albertville, MN for the celebration. Special guests for dinner included cousins Beth and Jack Jackson of Brunswick, GA and Father Tobin.

Madlon and her family gracioulsy thanked all who contributed to her special day.