Our beloved mom, Abbie Pence, died peacefully the morning of February 11, 2022, at the age of 79 from heart failure. We were blessed and proud to have her as the head of our family all these years. Abbie was born June 1, 1942, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Donald and Valeria Fredrikson. She grew up in Helena on 6th Ave., and in her youth enjoyed playing stand up bass, competing in horsemanship events, and spending time with her pet duck, Willie. Abbie graduated from Helena High School in 1960 and briefly attended college at the University of Hawaii on O'ahu. She loved all things aquatic, so she happily spent more time surfing than studying.Abbie was a wonderful and loving mother who gave her all for us, her three children: Brett, Deborah (Deb), and Charles (Chuck). Despite sometimes working two jobs, she still found time to make homemade Halloween costumes or serve as a troop leader for the Camp Fire Girls. As an adult, she took up skiing and biking just so she could participate in activities that kept her close to us. Her generosity, independence, optimism, and steadfastness will continue to guide us.Abbie worked for Blue Cross of Montana for 19 years while also working nights and weekends as a hostess for some of Helena's finest restaurants. She took early retirement, had fun for a couple of months, then took on a new part-time career at the National Agricultural Statistics Service, recently retiring again after 28 years. The job connected her with farmers and ranchers all over the country, and she enjoyed hearing their stories.She had a deep appreciation for the arts, enjoying the Helena Symphony, Holter Museum, and many local events, and sought out these opportunities when she travelled. Highlights were visiting Romania and Greece with Deb and Chuck, as well as many road trips with her dad for family events and reunions. Abbie was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Val. She is survived by her children; Brett and Chuck of Helena, Deb of Corvallis, OR, her granddaughter Madison of Portland, OR, and many cherished cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association. Per Abbie's request, no services are planned. Although we can never fill the space she leaves behind, she left us with many happy memories.