St. Ignatius Mission, now a
National Historic Place, was built in 1891 by Jesuit Missionaries. Through its life it has been operated by the Ursuline Nuns and local pioneer women. Afton Callahan is one of the women who has contributed much to the upkeep of the mission.
Born Afton Agnes Lundblade, she was married to Dan Callahan on March 2, 1946, in Idaho Falls. They farmed for five years at Salmon, Idaho before moving to St. Ignatius in 1951, where they continued to farm, raising seed potatoes, children, cattle, corn, peas and sunflowers. Afton passed away in 1994, Dan on October 25, 2004.
Afton's memorial consists of a bronze plaque and a contemplation bench on an asphalt pad in a shady area beside the mission. It is behind an 1854 log cabin, the first home of the missionaries.
In Loving Memory of
Afton Callahan
And
All the Loyal Efforts of the Women,
The Ursuline Nuns of St. Ignatius
Mission,
The Sisters of Charity
And Early Pioneer Women.