Laila S. Pearson

Montana native and longtime Flathead resident Laila S. Pearson passed away peacefully on July 19, 2006. She was 83. Laila Jean Stranahan was born the only child of Benjamin and Genevieve Stranahan in Fort Benton on June 22, 1923.

Laila's grandmother, Ella Goodwin, came to Montana on the Steamboat Viola Belle in the 1860s. Her grandfather, Farand Stranahan, was a district judge and mayor of Fort Benton in the early 1900s. Her father was in the banking business. She spent her early years living in several Montana towns as her father's assignment changed, attending three high schools before graduating from Butte High. She attended the University of Montana and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Later, she was a social worker in Butte where she worked with miner's families.

She met her first husband at the Veteran's Hospital in Missoula and later moved to London, England, for three years, moving back to Montana after the marriage ended.

She met Kermit Pearson, her partner for life, in Butte, and they were married Aug. 17, 1952. They were married for 52 years. Together they raised six kids. She helped her husband in his veterinary practice for many years in Butte.

In 1965 the family moved to a ranch near Whitehall where they lived the country life until 1968 when they moved to Missoula. With her kids all in school or on their own Laila turned a lifelong passion for old houses and antiques into a career in real estate which she continued after the family moved to their dream location, the Flathead Valley, in 1971. At the end of her career she was a broker and partner in Big Sky Real Estate.

Laila was active in outdoor and social activities all her life. Laila loved to play bridge and her bridge club buddies became some of her closest friends. She was a duck hunter, camper, skier and accomplished sailor. She and Kerm were charter members of the North Flathead Yacht Club. She volunteered many hours helping with races and associated activities.

She was very interested in art, putting together an impressive collection over the years. She also loved to travel, visiting many European countries, Africa and Japan plus sailing adventures in the Caribbean with her husband and friends. In 1978 Kerm and Laila moved into what would become their retirement home in Somers with a beautiful view overlooking the lake. They re-modeled it into a comfortable home and spent many happy years there.

Laila was preceded in death by her parents; her oldest son, Randy; and her husband, Kerm.

She is survived by three sons, David and wife Leslie in Indian, Alaska, Timothy and wife Barbara of Kalispell and Benjamin, also of Kalispell; and two daughters, Darrielle and husband Wally Wyatt of Homosassa, Fla., and Jennifer and husband Jeff Fisher of Rollins. There are 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of her life at 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 at 145 Pavilion Hill Avenue in Somers.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Sue Snyder Fund, Flathead Bank, P.O. Box 769, Lakeside, MT, 59922.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Laila's family.