Barbara Ann King, 79

Our loving mom, grandma, sister, aunt and friend, Barbara Ann King, 79, passed away at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Monday, April 7, 2008. She will be greatly missed by family and friends, and we will hold many wonderful memories of time spent with her forever in our hearts.

Mom was born Sept. 23, 1928, in Whitefish, the daughter of Minnie and Les Mason. She spent the majority of her life on Texas Avenue in Whitefish. She married Don King Sr., on March 10, 1947, and they celebrated their 49th anniversary shortly before Don passed away in 1996.

Barbara enjoyed pinochle, crossword puzzles and performing with the Calamity Singers. She was a Red Hatter and met monthly with the Women of the Moose Grannies Club. She was a Cub Scout leader for her own boys and many other boys in town. She was a Sunday school teacher at the Whitefish Methodist Church.

She was loving and sentimental, and was never afraid to show her feelings. She loved camping and fishing, and she and Don drove to Alaska three times. In 1997, she and friend Jannette took a month-long trip to Europe, truly a trip of a lifetime.

We already miss Mom and are thankful for the time we had with her. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, and enjoyed buying, wrapping and giving Christmas presents, and was Christmas Eve hostess for the family.

She was kind and intelligent with a great sense of humor, and was a master of the quick comeback.

She took pride in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and sat through many games, tournaments, concerts and plays. She was also a great Whitefish Bulldog fan and enjoyed all their games and tournaments.

"Mom was a real trooper and is now resting gently without fear or pain, breathing easy and freely. Our love goes with you, Mama, we will see you again someday."

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Don Sr.; her parents; and her two infant daughters, Peggy and sister Betty.

Survivors are her sister, Shirley Jacobson and husband, Jake; brothers-in-law, Dick King and Dick Snyder; sons, Don King Jr., and wife, Suzanne, and Scott and wife, Doris; daughter, Michele, and husband, Brian; grandchildren, Jeff King and wife, Misty, Jeannie Stevens and husband, Terry, Kevin McDowell and Kelly McDowell; and great-grandchildren, Kilee, Kristin, and Kendra Stevens, Kodi and Kacee King, Joslin and Allissa Lasalle, and LaChrisa Sandlin. Recently joining the family are Khrystina and Jim Kolstad, and daughters, Rainy, Stormy and Rom Mammen. Barbara is also survived by many nieces, nephews, a cousin, Sandy Jones, and by many friends.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 11, at the United Methodist Church in Whitefish. A brief graveside service will be after a luncheon at the Moose Lodge in Whitefish. Mom requested that all memorials be sent to Wings Cancer Support, c/o Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish is in charge of arrangements.