June H. Starkey, 95, of Missoula, MT, passed away on March 21, 2022 peacefully in her sleep.
She was born on February 13, 1927 to Roy and Edythe Halvorson in Duluth, MN. Her parents taught her to value family, knowledge, originality, love, and understanding. June attended the Washburn School, East Junior High School, and Duluth Central High School, graduating in 1944. After high school, she attended Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and graduated with honors with a degree in World Literature and a pilot’s license. After college, she earned her instructor’s rating and worked as a flight instructor in Duluth for returning GI’s, logging over 600 flight hours.
June married Marshall H. Alworth II in 1948 and had three children (Marshall, William, and Kristine) before his death in 1953.
She married Robert J. Starkey in 1956 and had one son (Rob).
June got her devotion to family, adventurous spirit, and love of entertaining from her parents. Her deepest values were love of God, family, and country.
She traveled the world with her husband (Bob) children, and grandchildren. She achieved her life-long goal of visiting all 50 states.
Food was a very important part of her life; her research for travel always included the best places to eat. She was a gourmet cook, and her dinner parties were a much sought-after invitation. June co-authored a cookbook titled “Entertaining Florida Style,” wrote a culinary column for the local newspaper in Vero Beach, FL, took cooking lessons from Julia Child in Italy, and attended cooking school in Thailand. Among her other hobbies were gardening, hunting, fly-fishing, snorkeling, hiking, reading, and needlepoint.
June volunteered at Hospice and Meals on Wheels in Vero Beach and taught reading to children in Fellsmere, FL, and served on the board of Northwood Children’s Home in Duluth, MN. She was an ardent supporter of the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach.
June was a dedicated member of the Community Church of Vero Beach, FL. She travelled on several church-sponsored trips.
She is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Edythe Halvorson, her first husband Marshall Alworth II, second husband Robert Starkey Sr., and great-grandchildren Kaitlyn and Zach Blom.
She is survived by her brother Thomas (Rose) Halvorson of Boise, ID, sons Marshall (Mary Jo) Alworth III of Oregon, WI, William Alworth of Darby, MT, Robert (Kimberly) Starkey Jr. of Laramie, WY, daughter Kristine (Darryl) Mackey, of Darby, MT, 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Suggested memorials are VNA (Visiting Nurse Association) & Hospice Foundation, Vero Beach, FL, Meals on Wheels, Vero Beach, FL, or Northwood Children’s Services, Duluth, MN.
Services will be held on May 21 at 1:00pm at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Duluth.
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