Peggy Lea Kelly Fonner (Wynegar)

MISSOULA ~ Peggy Lea Fonner, 79, of Missoula, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Monday, October 17, 2022.

Peggy Lea Wynegar was born on December 3, 1942, in Cutbank, MT, to Charlotte Kingman (Teeple) and Theodore Wynegar. As a young girl she lived on her family farm with her two sisters in Browning, where she attended elementary school. Peggy moved to Missoula when she was twelve years old and attended Central School.

Peggy married her first husband Alan Solum on August 26, 1957. They had six children together and moved around for the military, finally settling back in Missoula. Peggy and Alan divorced in 1970 and she spent her time working, and taking care of her children.

Peggy then married the love of her life Marvin Kelly, on July 2, 1977. They had one child together in 1978 and Peggy spent the next 23 years working at Kmart and Buttrey's, gardening, bowling with Marvin, caring for their youngest granddaughter and spending time with family and friends.

Peggy loved hosting celebrations for her large family - especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. She loved attending the sporting events and performances of her grandkids, and hosting Erik (Sam) and Richard (Eva) Solum for the summers. Her daughter Barb (Steven) and two grandchildren Michael (Megan) and Matthew (Veronica) Reeder also took her fishing and picnicking every year.

Marvin passed away in 1999 and Peggy married her late husband Larry Fonner on February 14, 2003. During this time, Peggy started working for Walmart and continued to provide for her youngest granddaughter Kylyn Rogers (Dan) and grandson Drekin Kelly, while continuing all of her favorite traditions.

Peggy did not like having idle hands and was constantly working even while at home. Peggy enjoyed hosting weekly dinners for her family, going for drives, sewing, crocheting, number puzzles, cooking, baking, cleaning, making repairs to her house, watching TV, listening to country music, and most of all - gardening. Her love for plants almost matched her love for her kids.

The toughest change in Peggy's life was when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and decided to retire from Walmart. Being a natural born worker, her family knew it was their turn to take care of her through this transition.
Peggy will be missed by her family, past co-workers, and friends. Her sarcastic but stern personality will always be unmatched.

Peggy is preceded in death by her mother and father Charlotte and Theodore, son David Solum, grandson Bradley Solum and husbands Marvin Kelly and Larry Fonner.

Peggy is survived by her six children - Barbara Reeder (Steven) of California, Nikki Kelly (Jeff Real) of Missoula, Pamela Pfau (Joseph) of Bigfork, Erik Solum (Penny) of Bigfork, Laural Manwill (Wayne) of Florence, Debra Eickhorst (Randy) of Bigfork, daughter-in-law Rose Solum of Missoula, eight grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.