Mary (Brome) Bielenberg, 83
Mary (Brome) Bielenberg, 83, passed away peacefully July 12, 2007, at her home on the family farm in Bigfork of complications from skin cancer. Mary Elizabeth Brome was born in Missoula on Nov. 18, 1924, to Levi and Ruby (Riddle) Brome.
She attended and graduated from Missoula County High School and the University of Montana. While at the university, she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and was active in many clubs on campus. She taught school in Great Falls after graduation. In 1957, she married Robert 'Marc' Bielenberg of Avon, who at the time was a fur trapper, trout culturist and also engaged in mining industry. Together they had two children, Marcum Brome and Claudia Meredith.
Mary enjoyed those first several years raising her children, helping them collect butterflies and learn about wildflowers and animals. She had a terrific knack for decorating the Christmas tree (her kids claimed it took days) using lots of colored lights, foil icicles and ornaments evenly distributed on each and every branch. The tree was always magical. The birthday cakes she made would have rivaled any professional chef's! All holidays were made special for her children.
In the mid-1960s, the family moved from the Avon ranch to Hamilton, where they lived for more than 30 years. She loved the Bitterroot Valley and was active in several organizations, including Chapter AF, PEO, and the Bitterroot Public Library. In the mid 1990s, Mary and her husband moved to Bigfork to be closer to their daughter.
Mary enjoyed travel, having visited many foreign countries with family and friends. She and her husband had the unique opportunity to travel on several occasions with their good friend Countess Margit Bessenyey, Marcus Daly's granddaughter, to South Africa, Austria, Hungary, Hong Kong and China. These trips she often fondly recalled. She also loved and had deep appreciation for music, history, art, literature and theater, often remarking on her memories of the many musical productions she saw on her trips to London.
She kept in close touch with several of her Delta Gamma sorority and PEO sisters over the years, enjoying their friendship and sharing family experiences.
Mary loved flowers and had many varieties at the Bigfork farmhouse. She always planned to add more, hopefully, that the deer wouldn't find appetizing or the raccoon babies wouldn't make a bed out of.
She was a 55-year member of PEO, and also a member of Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mary was preceded in death by her stepson, Robert Kurt; and her son, Marcum Brome.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Marc; and daughter, Claudia and Lloyd Thorsrud, all of Bigfork. She also leaves her wonderful caregivers, Kelly Imlay and Nancy Balistreri; her 'surrogate' granddaughter, Hyasmin Mendoza; also her caring neighbors and medical staff. She also leaves behind her loving family pets Cassie, Tippy, Spookie, Norman, Rocky and Apollo.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests charitable donations to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 600 S. Third St., in Hamilton or the University of Montana marching band in Missoula. At Mary's request, no services will be held.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home caring for the family.