Barbara Kay Seelye, 49

by Daily Inter Lake
| May 15, 2005 1:00 AM

Barbara Kay Seelye, 49, "went to be with the Lord" after a long, courageous battle with multiple sclerosis (MS) on Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

She was born on June 22, 1955, in Kalispell, to Jack and June (Harris) Seelye. She attended grade school in Evergreen and graduated from Flathead High School in 1973. She attended college in Montana and Oregon before MS forced her to leave school.

She loved children and liked to see them learn and worked with Head Start and other school programs. The 4-H club, Church Youth League and high school choir, along with camping, singing and family gatherings were her favorite activities.

Barbara was a kind, loving and caring Christian and loved the Lord. She had a cheery, positive disposition in the face of many challenges. She lived at Immanuel Lutheran Home for more than 11 years and appreciated the outstanding staff and their exceptional loving care.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jack; uncle, Dale; aunt, Betty; and her grandparents.

She is survived by her mother, June Seelye, of Kalispell; brother, Dan Seelye and wife, Ann, of Riverton, Wyo.; and two sisters, Susan Rankin and husband, Gary, of Larimore, N.D., and Janice Seelye-Mothershead and husband, Jerry, of Covington, Wash., and their families; also many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Funeral services for Barbara will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, May 16, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Pastor Lindean Barnett and Pastor Peter Ramseth officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 16, all at Johnson Mortuary. Burial will be at C. E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Immanuel Lutheran Home Recreation and Chapel fund, 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell, MT 59901; Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite #11, Kalispell, MT 59901 or to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 S. Main, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Barbara's family.