Barbara King
Barbara King passed away at Kalispell Regional Hospital on April 7, 2008, at the age of 79. She will be greatly missed by family and friends and we will hold many wonderful memories of time spent with her forever in our hearts.
Barbara was born Sept. 23, 1928, to Minnie and Les Mason and spent the majority of her life living on Texas Avenue. She and Don King Sr. were married March 10, 1947, and celebrated their 49th anniversary shortly before Don passed away in 1996.
Barbara enjoyed playing pinochle, working crossword puzzles and performing with the Calamity Singers. She also was a Red Hatter and met monthly for lunch with the Women of the Moose Grannies Club.
Barbara was a Cub Scout leader for her sons Don and Scott and many other boys in town. She also was a Sunday school teacher for many years at the Whitefish Methodist Church. She was a loving and sentimental person that never failed to show her feelings.
In years past, Barbara spent many summers camping and fishing with family and friends, and she and Don drove to Alaska three times. In 1997, Barbara and her childhood friend Jannette took a month-long trip to Europe. It was truly a trip of a lifetime for her.
Barbara never forgot a birthday or anniversary and enjoyed buying, wrapping and giving Christmas presents and being the Christmas Eve hostess for the family. She was kind and intelligent with a great sense of humor and a master of the quick comeback. She had great pride in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and spent many hours sitting through dozens of football, basketball, softball, baseball games, concerts and plays. She was a lifetime Whitefish Bulldog fan and very much enjoyed many games and tournaments.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Don Sr.; her parents Les and Minnie; infant daughter Peggy and sister Betty.
She is survived by her sister Shirley Jacobson and husband Jake; brothers-in-law Dick King and Dick Snyder; sons Don King Jr. and wife Suzanne, and Scott King and wife Doris; daughter Michelle McDowell and husband Brian; grandchildren Jeff King and wife Misty, Jeannie Stevens and husband Terry, Louann LaSalle and husband Logan, Karen Kenfield and husband Shane, and Kelly and Kevin McDowell; great grandchildren Kilee, Kristin and Kendra Stevens, Kodi and Kacee King, Joslin and Alissa LaSalle, and LaChrisha Sandlin; Suzanne King's sons Ron Mammen and Jim Kolstad and his wife Khrystina and their daughters Rainy and Stormy; many nieces and nephews; cousin-in-law Sandy Jones; and many wonderful friends.
A memorial service was held April 11, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Whitefish followed by a graveside service. Memorials may be sent to Wings Cancer Support, c/o Kalispell Regional Hospital.