Vandelyn Marie (Kirkeby) Kujala

Vandelyn Marie (Kirkeby) Kujala, aged 81 years, passed away Monday afternoon, January 1, 2024, in a Dillon care facility.  Vandelyn had struggled mightily with dementia.  Her oldest son Steven, also in Dillon, tirelessly assisted her along with facility staff.  Thank you all.

Vandelyn grew up with her parents and two brothers in the family home in the “Goosetown” part of Anaconda.  Across the street from the foundry and under the shadow of the big stack, the family had strong ties to the community and to the smelter.  Her first immediate family included her mother and father, Sara and Vandel Kirkeby, older brother Richard, and younger brother John.  Vandelyn’s memories of growing up in Anaconda remained prominent throughout her life, including the fun she had with friends at Georgetown Lake.

After graduating from Anaconda High School in 1961, Vandelyn studied and worked in the banking industry in Minnesota before marrying her high school sweetheart Roger Kujala in 1963.  Their life together started in Marine Corps base housing at Cherry Point, North Carolina.  After Roger’s military service, they returned to Montana to start a family.  They found their way back to Anaconda and settled down to work and raise two sons Steven and Quentin.  Vandelyn worked full time as a stay-at-home Mom until her sons concluded grade school.  She then started substitute teaching for the Anaconda School District.  She liked most working with students with special needs.  She eventually retired from the school district as a custodian having worked and made student and teacher friends in several schools.  In retirement Vandelyn continued as a central family figure for her immediate and extended family and friends through good times and bad.  She especially enjoyed the addition of her daughter-in-law Dee and granddaughter Qayl.  She loved spending the holidays and sharing secrets with Qayl and watching her perform on ice as a figure skater.  In her home and in others, Vandelyn helped family and friends as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, godmother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, counselor, and neighbor.  She excelled in all those roles and will be missed.  

Vandelyn was preceded in death by her parents Sara and Vandel, brothers Richard and John, sister-in-law Pat, and her husband of 53 years, Roger.  Vandelyn and Roger also lost Roger’s parents Rosemary and Howard Johnson.  Those losses, individually and in total, weighed heavily upon her.  Survivors include her son Steven of Dillon and son Quentin and his wife Dee and their daughter Qayl, all of Helena.  Other survivors include beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law and their children including Polly (John deceased) Kirkeby of Anaconda, James (Pat deceased) of Greenacres, WA, Sandy and Ed McLean of Missoula, Howard and Theresa Johnson of Anaconda, Bob and Eileen Johnson of Butte, and Karen and Paul Dykstra of  Paradise Valley, AZ.

Vandelyn’s family plans a memorial service on Saturday, January 20, 11:00 AM at Hope Lutheran Church in Anaconda.  All family and friends are welcome.