Sherry Ann Kline, 52
On Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, "God gazed down from Heaven, in search of a helper with a good heart, and called upon Sherry Ann Kline."
Sherry Ann Carter Kline was born on Feb. 14, 1952, in Whitefish, to Ray E. Carter and Gladys V. Johnson Carter.
A Valentine's baby, Sherry enjoyed collecting anything and everything "heart-shaped." The youngest of four children, she and her older brothers grew up learning to fish and swim in the Flathead River and roaming the foot of Columbia Mountain, at the Carter and Johnson family farms. She attended Columbia Falls Schools and later, attended FVCC, majoring in human services. Sherry worked in customer service all over the valley for the majority of her life, while raising her three children, Shellie, Renae, and Jason.
While growing up, Sherry and her kids found laughter in small things like old records and games of Yahtzee, trips to Nebraska to see grandparents, catching fireflies, and drive-in movies. She took great pride in her kids and could always be counted on to help with a last minute project -- a costume, a dress for a band concert, or a scouting craft. She was a talented seamstress and sewed many of her children's clothes, as well as agreeably mending her son-in-law's work jeans and making blankets and cloth diapers for her grandchildren.
Sherry found her soul mate in Greg Kline, and they married in July of 1986. Greg and Sherry were an invincible duo and could always be seen hand in hand and obviously in love. From rummage sales to road trips, and as many trips as they could fit to the Red Lobster in between, eighteen years of "hearts," love notes, and constant companionship were gifted Sherry and Greg. He cared for her with empathy and grace the remaining months of her life, never failing to tell her each day, how beautiful and cherished she was.
Sherry claimed all "bragging rights" to her four grandchildren, Justin, Kasmir, Amaia, and Hannah, as you could tell by her walls covered in photographs and her constant search for a whimsical "goodie" to send home in a bag "for the kids." She loved surprising others with gag gifts, especially her famous "Rudolph" gifts, and was always up for a good prank, a good story, or a good talk.
Some of her greatest joys in life were gardening and supplying her family with canned and dehydrated bounty from her green thumb, as well as fishing, camping, and spoiling her cat. Sherry really loved boating -- while some people do figure 8's, Sherry excelled at figure 22's! She was always the first in line to help plan and organize a party or event, right down to doing most of the catering herself -- whether for 25 or 125. She was famous for her baked beans and fried chicken, her stuffed green peppers, and her artistic vegetable trays.
Sherry will always remembered for her generosity of spirit, her perseverance, her sense of humor, and her vivacious and tenacious love of life. She taught those around her that you always keep your chin up and a smile on your face, dare to believe in yourself and never give up, and when all else fails -- grab a star and hang on!
To all of those who knew and loved her, Sherry will always be remembered as "one tough Norwegian woman," and to those who knew her best of all, it is no surprise that she lived her last moments the way she lived her life -- fully, with dignity, and most of all, "her way." She will be greatly missed and remembered always, for the person she strived to be, and in the process, taught us all how to become. While she was here, she made the grass greener, the lights brighter, the tastes sweeter, and the nights warmer.
Sherry was preceded in death by her mother, Gladys (Johnson Carter) Kile; an infant daughter, Tina Rae Sibley; father, Ray E. Carter, Sr.; and grandparents T.S. and Bessie Carter and Nicolai and Winnie Johnson.
She is survived by her husband, Greg, of Columbia Falls; daughters, Shellie Spilis and husband Chucko, and Renae Gugler and husband Rocky, of Kalispell; a son, Jason Polensky, of Wichita, Kan.; grandchildren, Justin, Kasmir, and Amaia Spilis, and Hannah Lou Gugler; brothers Ray Carter, Jr., of Pierre, S.D., Larry Len Carter, of Newton, Kan., and Jack Carter, of Tulsa, Okla., and numerous other relatives.
Cremation will take place under the direction of Columbia Mortuary. Services will be held in Kalispell, at Northridge Lutheran Church, 323 Northridge Drive, on Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 11a.m., with fellowship following.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Sherry's name, to the Northridge Lutheran Church general fund or the charity of your choice.