Cheryl Bracken

Cheryl Ann Bracken, 58, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, at her home in Columbia Falls. She was born at Chelsea, Mass., to James Lewkowicz and Blanche (Silman) Lewkowicz on May 3, 1950. She and her husband Jack Runge had currently owned and operated Town & Country Kennels in Columbia Falls.

Cheryl was raised and educated at Arlington, Mass., and she and her husband had resided on Cape Cod for a number of years. After traveling throughout America, they came to the north Flathead Valley in 1991 and resided in Columbia Falls.

A person who valued relationships, Cheryl enjoyed making and spending time with friends and her great love of animals made her a tireless advocate for animals of every kind. As an excellent photographer, Cheryl greatly enjoyed photographic art; her love of the Montana outdoors produced a great enjoyment of hiking, boating, swimming and skiing. All who knew her will greatly miss her, most especially her favorite dogs, Drummer and Sonny.

Survivors include her husband, Jack Runge; brother, James Lewkowicz and wife Claire and daughter Katherine of Arlington, Mass.; step-daughters Danielle Nelson of Connecticut and Melissa Gierach of Wisconsin; as well as a host of good friends.

Services were scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary Chapel with Father John Miller officiating. Visitation and viewing was Friday from 9 a.m. until service time.

Memorials in Cheryl’s memory may be made to any local chapter of the Humane Society.