Grace Larkin

Grace I. Larkin, 96, a lifetime resident of Columbia Falls, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Colonial Manor. Born Sept. 17, 1912, at Columbia Falls to Arthur and Ida Green, Grace attended Columbia Falls schools, graduating from Columbia Falls High School in 1930.  She was later married to Bud Darling.

During the construction of Hungry Horse Dam, she had operated the Snack Shack Café; she also had been a telephone operator and a dispatcher for Columbia Falls Police Department. Grace later was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Columbia Falls as a clerk and sorter. She married Henry (Hank) Larkin in 1952.

Grace and Hank had lived in the Teakettle area and later at Lee’s Meadow on Tamarack Road (now Meadow Lake) as well as residing at their place on Ashley Lake and spending winters in Apple Valley, Calif. Hank preceded her in death in 2001.

Grace had been a longtime member of the United Methodist Church and Royal Neighbors of America as well as serving as a volunteer at the Klothes Kloset community clothing store.

Also preceding her in death were her siblings, Wilfred “Bud” Green, Vera Darling and Hank Green.

Survivors include sons Gene Darling and wife Mary of Los Alamos, N.M.; F. Scot Larkin and wife Stephanie of Columbia Falls; step-daughter, Barbara Buentemeier and husband Ron of Columbia Falls; grandchildren including Peggy Hoppe and husband Bill of Columbia Falls as well as several great and great-great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held Friday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls under the direction of Columbia Mortuary.