Earleen Grace Zinke, 89
Earleen Grace Zinke, 89, a longtime Whitefish resident, passed away of natural causes Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, at the Colonial Manor nursing home in Whitefish. She was born April 2, 1918, in Bainesville, the daughter of J.M. and Grace Johnson. She grew up there and helped to raise her brother and sister.
She met and married Ole Zinke, the love of her life, on March 20, 1937, and they enjoyed 70 years of marriage, working and raising their four children, Greta, Ray and Shirly in Kalispell, and David, who was born and raised in Whitefish. The family made their home at 104 Columbia Ave., and then in 1956 on a farm south of Whitefish where life's many milestones were celebrated.
Earleen was a prideful worker and loved her jobs as a grocery clerk at Northside Grocery in Kalispell, as the bookkeeper for the family business, Ole's Plumbing and Heating in Whitefish, a sales associate at J.C. Penny and Co., and the Toggery in Whitefish where she retired. After retirement, she worked for her daughter Greta at the Big Mountain Ski Shop in the winter and the Summit House in the summer. She could be seen driving her little red Volkswagen Beetle up the mountain road every weekend, usually with a couple of grandchildren in tow.
Grandma enjoyed the social side of life as well, and was an avid bridge and solitaire player. She was a bowler and a dancer, she and Ole could be seen dancing the night away at the Moose Lodge, and she could also throw a horseshoe right up until her last years.
She spent vacations in New York City, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Glendive, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and many camping and fishing trips in Northwestern Montana. She will be remembered as a great hostess at gatherings at the family cabin on Whitefish Lake. Also, her turkey dinners and famous sourdough pancake breakfasts with all the trimmings were the standard fare. At Christmas, she would treat everyone with her oatmeal crispies, date-filled cookies, and the best pumpkin pies and homemade rolls to be found.
She was active in community service roles with the Moose Lodge, Royal Neighbors, and St. Peter's Lutheran Church. The Zinkes were active members of the church until they no longer could drive, and the pastor came to them.
Earleen was especially proud of taking care of her mother. She would visit every noon hour to curl and roll up her mother's hair while she was a resident at North Valley extended care in Whitefish.
Earleen loved sports, and watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren play was her biggest passion. She was an avid Whitefish Bulldog and UM Grizzly fan. She often played basketball with her grandchildren and gave them pointers on how to shoot the ball.
"Earleen Grace has gone home to be with her beloved husband, Ole. We will dearly miss the mother, grandma, and friend she was to all of us."
She was preceded in death by her parents, J.M. and Grace Johnson; six sisters; two brothers; a great-grandson, Hunter Martin Hale; son, Ray Dale Zinke; and her dear husband, Ole.
She is survived by daughters; Greta Hale; Shirly and husband, Jack Silliker; son, David and wife, Laurie Zinke; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Zinke; 16 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at the Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell, with the Rev. Martin Kaarre officiating.
Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.