Della (Spence) Haider, 76, Belfield, died Monday, June 21, 2010 at her home. Della’s funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 24, 2010, at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with Chaplain Harold Sundgren officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the family present to greet and visit with friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 8 a.m., to 2 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service. There will be a funeral service for Della at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 26, 2010 at the Grogan Funeral Home, Polson, Mont., with Pastor Marvin Herman officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the funeral home. Interment will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.
Della Alexenko was born September 7, 1933, in Killdeer, the daughter of Prince and Tena (Dobrosky) Alexenko. She was raised and educated in the Killdeer area.
Della married Raymond “Keith” Spence on December 4, 1951. She has lived in Polson, Mont., Keene, N.D., Billings, Mont., Missoula, Mont., Arlee, Mont., prior to settling in Belfield. While in Arlee the family lived on a small farm. In 1971 Keith and Della moved to Belfield and purchased the Roughrider Bar. Her husband Keith died on April 14, 1988. Della continued to make Belfield her home, and on May 23, 1990 she married Jake Haider in Wibaux, Mont. They made their home on the farm east of Belfield.
Della enjoyed gardening, Conway Twitty, country music, cooking and baking, camping, dancing and tending to the different animals. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family and friends. Della loved life and cherished every moment she was able to spend with others.
Della is survived by her husband, Jake; her three children, Sharon (Leonard) Dorval, Belfield, Cody Spence, Lincoln, Mont., and Kathy (John) Hebert, Minot; five step-children, Allen Haider, Hazen, Alice (LeRoy) Berger, Belfield, Anthony (Della) Haider, Fargo, Arlene (Jim) Frank, Beulah, and Alison (Larry) Hlebechuk, South Heart; seven grandchildren; 15 step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 17 step-great-grandchildren; four siblings, Rose Eschenko, Grassy Butte, Alma Tachenko, Baker City, Ore., Ruth (Fred) Eschenko, Big Timber, Mont., and Ray (Deanna) Alexenko, Portland, Ore.; and two half sisters, Agnes Mosenko, Minot, and Stacia Merekle, Arcadia, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; her parents; one sister; two half brothers; two half sisters; and two brothers-in-law. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donors choice.
