Gladys Marie (Soderstom) Koford, 89
Gladys Marie (Soderstom) Koford, 89, passed away on Thursday, May 31, 2007, at Eden House assisted living home in Kalispell. She was born in Camas Prairie, on May 12, 1918, to Charles and Ida Soderstrom. As a young girl, Gladys moved with her family to Kalispell where she attended school and graduated with the class of 1936.
On June 28, 1935, in Polson, she married the love of her life, Carl Victor Koford and to this union three children were born. Gladys and Vic celebrated their 71st anniversary in June of 2006 before his passing in July of 2006.
Gladys worked several years at Montgomery Ward and Company, later at F.A. Buttrey Company until it was sold to Hillstead's. Gladys retired at that time and she and her husband enjoyed many years traveling south in the winter.
She enjoyed traveling, the outdoors, fishing, and camping — especially at Hungry Horse Reservoir and Lake Koocanusa. She spent many summers with her family, traveling with them through the Parks of Canada and Glacier National Park. Her grandsons, Kevin and Jeff, have fond memories of skipping rocks on Lake McDonald, hiking through the backwoods, learning how to fish and stories around the campfire.
She dearly loved all her grandchildren and liked to spend time baking cookies and playing cards with them. When she and Vic would go south for the winter, her granddaughters would be waiting on the front porch for Grandpa and Grandma to come home.
Gladys loved all of her family and perpetuated strong family ties. She would be the first person on the phone to plan the next birthday or celebration for everyone to gather and enjoy. Gladys was a pillar of strength and always stepped in to take care of everyone and anyone.
Gladys was a long time member of Epworth United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She served on several different committees of the church. She loved her church very much.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Vic Koford; two sons, Donald and Ronald Koford; her sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Maurice Kelly; her sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and Bob Frach; her brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Alice Soderstrom; and her brother, Lloyd 'Bud' Soderstrom.
She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Paullin of Kalispell; two granddaughters, Kimberly Paullin Edinger and husband, Sid, of Newman Lake, Wash., Angela Paullin of Phoenix, Ariz.; one daughter-in-law, Judy Koford and her husband, Joe, of Bend, Ore.; grandsons, Kevin Koford and wife, Kym, of Portland, Ore., and Jeff Koford and wife, Kim, of Seal Beach, Calif. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Jacob, Zack, Ariel, and Ashley of Newman Lake, Wash., Taylor, Cameron, and Courtney of Portland, Ore., and Alex and Grant of Seal Beach, Calif. Gladys is also survived by sisters-in-law, Lucille Soderstrom of Sandpoint, Idaho, Helen Seek of Kalispell; and by many loving nieces, nephews and their families.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, at the Epworth United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Conrad Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, June 4, at Johnson Mortuary. The family suggests that any donations be made to Meals on Wheels, 160 Kelly Road, Kalispell, Montana 59901.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Kathleen's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Kathleen's guest book.