Isabel Boardman Follett, 104

Isabel Boardman Follett, 104, died Aug. 2, 2007. She was born to William Ralph and Mary Ann Boardman in Wigan, Lancashire, England, on March 8, 1903. They traveled by ship a year later and settled in Fernie, British Columbia.

After fire destroyed Fernie in 1908, she, her grandparents, parents and six younger brothers and sisters went to live in "the bush" at the foot of the Lizard Range. The homesteads are now the Fernie Ski Resort.

Isabel met and married George A. Follett in Fernie on May 18, 1925. After their son Doug was born, the Great Northern Railway beckoned them to Whitefish in 1927. Their daughter Louise was later born in Whitefish.

In 1935, Isabel became a U.S. citizen, always proud that she was the only one in her group to pass the citizenship test because she knew the first three words of the Preamble: "We the People…"

Isabel was very active in the Presbyterian church and was "famous" for the dinner rolls she baked for church events. Her other favorite community activities were Eastern Star and Fortnightly.

Isabel was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters; husband George; and daughter, Louise.

She is survived by her son, Doug Follett, and Anastasia, of Whitefish; granddaughters, Lynn Stocking and Tom of Missoula, Jen Follett McCaw and Bill of Missoula, Audrey McNally and Michael of Nelson, British Columbia; and Karen Follett and Hal Bennett of Whitefish; her beloved great grandchildren, Geoff Stocking of Boston, Sarah McNally of Tokyo, Japan, as well as Sydney, Riley and Austyn McNally of Nelson, British Columbia.

"Auntie Bell" will also be missed by her Canadian families, Dick Bryant of Fernie, Shirley Bryant of Vancouver, British Columbia, Warren Boardman of Jaffray, British Columbia, and Wilfrid Boardman of Cranbrook, British Columbia.

Isabel always spent her quiet time on the front porch watching the trains roll by and on the evening of Aug. 2, surrounded by her family, she died peacefully as the last passenger train of the night headed west.

Church services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 8, at the Whitefish Presbyterian Church with a reception following the service. Burial will be at the Whitefish Cemetery after the reception.

Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish is in charge of the arrangements.