Hilda E. Hatlen, 96

Hilda E. Hatlen, 96, a Libby resident since 1949, died Monday, March 14, 2005, at the Libby Care Center. She was born Aug. 23, 1908, at Somers to Ole and Gunhild Lee who emigrated from Norway and were married in Kalispell in 1907.

Hilda lived in Norway from ages 3 to 5 on an extended family visit to the homeland, speaking only Norwegian when she began school at Somers where she grew up.

Hilda graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell in 1927 with high honors and was awarded a four-year scholarship to Montana State University. One of her few regrets in life is that she decided to first work a period of time to save money for college; when the 1929 stock market crash occurred, her college plans were thwarted as she thought it wise to hang on to good job when many were out of work.

On Oct. 21, 1934, Hilda was married to Harold Hatlen, a carpenter from Clarkfield, Minn., beginning a marriage which would last until Harold's death 58 years later in 1992. They settled in Somers where he was employed by the Somers Lumber Company. They had four children, Jeanine, Betty, Roe and Richard. When the Somers Lumber Company closed in 1949, they sold their ranch at Somers and moved to Libby where Harold built homes before going to work for the J. Neils Lumber Company.

Hilda's main hobbies were writing and painting; she was a charter member and past president of the Montana Institute of the Arts Libby Writers Group, being an active member for over 45 years. In the 1960s, she had been a correspondent for The Western News and The Daily Inter Lake, as well as having articles published in The Washington Post and the New York Times Herald. She also had numerous feature stories and poems published in Montana and the Northwest.

Her published works include "Poems" (1947), "Our "Family Heritage" (1983), "Dear Mama" (1993), and her most recent book of poems, done at age 86, "Come and Talk to Me" (1994), the title poem of which won a National Golden Poet Award. Her last book, "From the Fjords to the Flathead" was almost complete when she suffered a major stroke at age 90 (her children will finish the two remaining chapters).

Her works are included in all six books produced by the Libby Writers Group with the last volume, "Tapestries of Yesterday" (1993), featuring one of her oil paintings on the cover.

Hilda enjoyed reading to her grandchildren; they all have poems written especially for them as a cherished legacy that will always be theirs. Her writing abilities were passed on to her grandchildren and even her two sons who (according to Hilda) when pushed, write acceptable poetry.

Hilda began painting in oils and doing charcoal drawings in 1966 at the age of 58 and was a charter member and past president of the Libby Fine Arts Group which was organized that same year. She had shown and sold many of her paintings as well as winning many local awards. Her favorite subjects were local landscapes and her copyrighted series of Norwegian paintings which have become family heirlooms.

In 1968, Hilda opened the Hatlen Art Gallery, the first of its kind in Libby for artists. She operated the gallery for four years, selling it in 1972 when her husband retired.

Shortly thereafter, Libby Second Hand and Antiques was formed and enjoyed by both Hilda and Harold, until Harold's health problems caused them to discontinue that venture.

As a fitting capstone to her artistic career, Hilda was honored by Pacific Lutheran University at its 1997 Norwegian Heritage Festival with a major retrospective of her paintings and poetry titled, "From Pen to Palette." The Scandanavian Scene wrote, "Hilda Hatlen charmed, impressed and inspired all who came in contact with this active 88-year-old poet and artist."

Hilda was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church and over the years, many renters at the Hatlen Apartments were introduced by Hilda to her church. She was past president of the Ladies Aid church group and was a historian for the church. She was also a member of the Sons of Norway Norhaven Lodge of Libby, which she and her husband helped organize; the Heritage Museum and the Libby Senior Citizens.

Hilda's encouragement and enthusiasm was instrumental in helping to found Libby Nordicfest in 1985, including suggesting the name. She and her husband Harold were advisors, honorary board members and

served as Nordicfest's first King and Queen. In 1998 in conjunction with the celebration of Hilda's 90th birthday, Libby Nordicfest announced the establishment of the Hilda Hatlen Literary Arts Endowment Scholarship and in 1999, featured her on the annual Nordicfest Poster, surrounded by young children of the community.

Though the Great Depression threw a monkey wrench into her plans for a college education, she never stopped learning even while raising a family of four; and she never forgot the value of education even when it meant a second mortgage on the family home so that her children could achieve the college education she was not able to achieve. She never stopped being a source of inspiration for her family and community.

In 1998, Hilda's family celebrated her life on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Scholarships set up by the Hatlen family in her name for students of the arts and those attending Lutheran colleges ensure that others beyond her own family can test Hilda's motto, "You never know what you can do until you try." To Hilda, church and family came first and then the pursuit of her personal goals.

Preceded in death by her husband, Harold, and daughters, Betty Smith and Jeanine Hatlen, and brother Ole Lee, Hilda leaves a rich legacy of faith and heritage and is remembered and loved by her children, Roe Hatlen and wife Beverly of Apple Valley, Minn., Richard Hatlen and wife Karen of Menlo Park, Calif.; son-in-law, Russ Smith of Ocean Park, Wash.; grandchildren, Monica Myers Roys, Randy Roys, Kari Hatlen, Erik Hatlen, Lars Hatlen, Hans Hatlen and Leif Hatlen; and great-grandchild, Colton Myers Roys.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church with Pastor Les Nelson officiating. Private committal services will be Monday morning at the City of Libby Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 200 W. Larch, Libby; the Sons of Norway, 165 Garden Rd., Libby; or the Nordicfest Hatlen Memorial Fund, c/o 186 Airfield Rd., Libby MT 59923.