Dolores Marie Luke

Heaven’s garden holds a new rose.

Dolores Marie Luke passed away Jan. 13, 2013 at Kalispell’s Northwest Health Center, just a few weeks shy of her 92nd birthday.

Born Dolores Edgerton on Feb. 4 1921, in Whitefish, where she attended school and lived her whole life, she married her true love Robert Luke on May 11, 1940. They were married for 59 years.

She was a member of The Royal Neighbors and The Moose Lodge. She served on the Whitefish Library Board, the PTA, and she was always a Room Mother.

Dolores’ career was as a mother. She practiced joyfully on her baby brother, all her nieces, nephews, and friends’ children, until she was thrilled to finally find herself pregnant with Diane. Then came Jon, and Michelle snuck in late as the caboose. She loved us all with her whole heart.

Dolores was the mother who made sugar Easter eggs with a peephole to see the tiny toy surprise hidden inside, for the whole of the second grade class. She was the mother who knitted Ken and Barbie matching ski ensembles, with no patterns, and designed my dresses with bunnies peeking up out of pockets. The pregnant mother, who lay in bed for months, determined not to lose her son, when the doctors told her she would. How glad she was to be right. She was the grandmother who had an open-door policy as to drops-offs and was often found on the floor, revving Hot Wheels down a plywood ramp with her grandsons. Her life revolved around all of ours, in giving us the magical childhoods others only dreamed of.

Dolores collected antiques. She painted beautiful watercolor landscapes. She loved to garden and grew gorgeous roses. She believed strongly in tending her community garden, too. She scanned the local papers daily, and when she found a story of a family in need, she generously sent anonymous gifts.

Michelle said that her mother and father were like a dock, always there, always waiting for her to sail up in a little boat from wherever she had been. It wasn’t just for Michelle. Their arms were open to all, wide and strong and loving. What a blessing that was.

Now dad has his girlfriend back in his arms. He waited — revving the car’s motor on the other side, I’m sure — for a long time. Mother was also preceded in death by her parents, Jessie and Willard Edgerton; her brother, Fred Edgerton and his wife, Lois; sister-in-law, Helen Evenson; and brother-in-law, Charles Luke.

She is survived by her brother, Richard Edgerton and his wife, Colleen; brother-in-law, Ed Luke and his wife, Betty; and sister-in-law, Norma Christopherson; as well as her daughters, Diane Luke, Michelle Luke, her son, Jon Luke, and daughter-in-law, Kona Luke; her grandchildren, Mark Bleick, Rick Bleick, James Luke, Josh Luke and his wife, Angelina Luke; great-grandchildren, Bob and Jessica Bleick, Mike Bleick and Whitney Chivers, Tim Bleick, Julie Bleick, J.D. Luke, Jonathon Luke, and Landyr Luke; great-great-grandchildren, Landen Bleick and Kaeden Bleick; all her many nieces and nephews, their children, and many friends.

Now you can wear your high heels again, mama.

No service will be held at Dolores’ request.