Margo Jean Frownfelter, 54

Margo Jean Frownfelter, 54, known to most as 'Margo of Bolster's Towing,' passed away in her home with her family by her side on Dec. 4, 2007, after a short battle with cancer. Margo was born Oct. 3, 1953, in Jamestown, N.D., to Erick and Lorna (Larson) Holmgren.

She has an older brother, Lorence, and a younger brother, Michael. She was raised at the family homestead north of Kulm, N.D., and attended school in Kulm.

Margo met Dennis Frownfelter on April 20, 1969, while roller skating in Jamestown. They were married three years later on April 21, 1972, in Edgeley, N.D. Margo and Dennis lived north of Bismarck, N.D., on a feedlot where Dennis worked for four years. Their children, Todd and Tina, were born in Bismarck.

Margo and Dennis fell in love with the Flathead Valley while visiting Dennis' brother, Donald. The family moved here in April 1976, and purchased the farm where they currently reside in September 1976. Margo enjoyed milking cows and raising pigs. She helped Dennis run the farm while the kids were growing up.

The family often took pack trips in the mountains with the horses; they were members of Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead for many years. Margo taught many members how to back up a pickup/trailer combination; not many people could parallel park a pickup and a two-horse trailer on Main Street in Kalispell like she could.

While Dennis worked construction with Donald, Margo was a substitute custodian for School District 5. In the fall of 1985, the new neighbors introduced Dennis to Maynard Bolster, owner of Bolster's Towing. Dennis started working for Maynard part-time during the winter and was full-time soon after. Margo would go with Dennis on long calls and help with recoveries. Maynard convinced Dennis and Margo to buy him out in 1990. Margo enjoyed driving the tow trucks, she could back the truck and vehicle better than any other driver, including Dennis; the shops would tease the drivers about calling Margo if it took them more than one try to back a vehicle into their shop.

In 1992, Margo and Dennis started expanding the business by purchasing their first tow truck other than the five that came with the business. The business allowed them to travel (tow vehicles) to Denver, Seattle, Portland, Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Alberta, Yukon Territory and Prescott, Ariz. They also purchased tow trucks or had them built in Salt Lake City, Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1994, Todd started driving tow truck and Tina worked in the office until 2000 when she started working for Flathead County.

Margo started bowling at Skyline Bowl's Monday Little League; after a few years she started sponsoring a team. Margo enjoyed bowling; she recruited driver's wives, her daughter and future employees. She quit bowling a few years before the alley burnt down. She needed the extra time for her Christmas caramel rolls. As many know, the rolls are a 'thank you' to the businesses that give Bolster's their patronage throughout the year. When Margo and Dennis bought Mountain Towing in Whitefish, the list grew even more. Last year Margo and the rest of the office staff made 174 dozen rolls.

In 1999, Margo joined Dennis at the Montana Tow Truck Association meetings as the Mountain Towing representative. They alternated with Todd's family attending the state conventions; one other driver and spouse attending also. Margo was the planner for the 2007 convention in Kalispell this past September. She was elected the secretary for 2008.

Margo and Dennis really enjoyed their trip to Sweden in April 2006 with Lorence and Connie to visit Margo's relatives. Her goal was to learn Swedish and call Monica's mother. Last month, Margo talked about how much fun it would be if the family could chip in and buy a house in Sweden for the family to share. She would have loved to go back to Sweden again to visit the relatives and her new friends.

Her parents, Erick and Lorna numerous aunts, uncles and father-in-law, Ira Frownfelter, preceded Margo in death.

Margo is survived by her husband, Dennis; son Todd and Mindy, and her only grandchildren, Daniel and Kimberly; and daughter, Tina, all of Kalispell; her brothers, Lorence and Connie, and Michael and Della, aunt, Frieda Larson; uncle, Wilbur and Carol Holmgren; five nieces and three nephews, and their families, in North Dakota; her in-laws, Donald, Raphael, Bernadine, Kenneth and Christine; plus four nieces, and their families. Margo is also survived by many friends and her unofficial children, Robert and Lisa. She treated their employees like family.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

Because of attendance and time of year, services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Easthaven Baptist, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, in Kalispell. Burial will be at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A potluck reception will be at Helena Flats School immediately following burial. Please bring a dish for the reception.

Memorials may be sent to either Grace Hospice, 1117 South Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901; or the Montana Tow Truck Association (MTTA) Survivors Memorial Fund, 332 Tobin Creek Road, Livingston, MT 59047.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.