Barbara Jean Ott Reynolds

Barbara Jean Ott Reynolds passed away, at home, on Sept. 3, 2010 surrounded by her family. She was born in Bemidji, Minn., on April 30, 1933 to Emil and Else Ott, the seventh of 10 children. When she was in high school her family moved to Columbia Falls. However, she choose to remain in Bemidji to finish school. She moved into an apartment above the movie theatre where she was working. She soon discovered that she missed her family and she too moved to Columbia Falls. It was there that she met the love of her life, Charles Ray Reynolds. They were married on March 3, 1951 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church and began their life together, both working and living at the Montana Veteran's Home.

In February 1952, Charles joined the Army and after basic training, was sent to Ulm, Germany. Barbara soon joined him, sailing on the Queen Elizabeth.

With the birth of their first child, Christy Rae Reynolds, in 1953, Barbara gladly took on the role of homemaker and dedicated the rest of her life to taking care of her family. The family soon expanded to five with the birth of Vicki Jean Reynolds, in 1955 and Roxann Elizabeth Reynolds Weaver, in 1959. She loved sewing clothes for her three girls, knitting, crocheting, gardening, canning, providing home cooked meals and a warm cozy home.

As a family, some of the fondest memories are the weekends spent camping and fishing on Bitterroot Lake. Most of their married life was spent living in Columbia Falls, where Charles worked at Plum Creek Lumber Co. for 43 years. After his retirement they moved to Kalispell eventually settling into a house at Village Greens Golf Course.

Barbara was proceeded in death by her parents, Emil and Else; her brothers, Arthur Ott, Racine, Wis., and George Ott, Placerville, Calif., and her sister, Delores Toftum Cox, Columbia Falls. She is survived by her husband, Charles, of Kalispell; her children, Christy Reynolds, San Diego, Calif., Vicki Reynolds, Helena, Roxann Weaver, and son-in-law, Bruce Weaver, Kalispell. Charles and Barbara have six grandchildren, Justin Taylor, Marie Taylor, Aaron Helgert, Philip Reinhold, Jacob Reinhold, and Nicholas Weaver. Barbara is survived by five brothers, LeRoy Ott, Green Bay, Wis., Floyd Ott, Columbia Falls, Richard Ott, Kalispell, Emil Ott, Jr., Placerville, Calif., and Glenn Ott, Hutchinson, Minn.; and one sister, Judith Campbell Anderson, Calif.

A graveside service was held Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Woodlawn Cemetery, in Columbia Falls. Barbara was a huge supporter of Montana Special Olympics and always donated graciously in the name of her grandson, Justin Taylor. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to Montana Special Olympics.