Bertha C. Leslie, 96

Billings resident Bertha Coyle Leslie, passed away June 10, 2009, at West Park Village, where she resided for 13 years.

A native of Helena born to Cornelius and Bertha Wirth Coyle on April 24, 1913, she married banker Robert "Bob" M. Leslie in 1938. Subsequent to Mr. Leslie's transfer to Havre, he was commissioned by the United States Navy and entered World War II, serving as a lieutenant in the Pacific Theater. Later, Bob was vice president of the First National Bank in Kalispell, and president of its affiliates in Mandan and Billings.

Moving to Kalispell in 1945, the Leslies raised five children here, including daughters, Coyla Scheel of Kewaskum, Wis., Mary Kay Swanson of Fargo, N.D., Laurie Vogele of Roberts, and Linda Robbin of Bigfork; and son, Robert Leslie, of Surprise, Ariz.

Mrs. Leslie was a dedicated mother, homemaker and hospital volunteer. She possessed a zest for life, and in addition to her ability to sing, she shall be remembered for a contagious sense of humor, the ceaseless manner in which she expressed love, remembered early Helena and took pride in the labor of her stonemason grandfather, Adolf Wirth, whose skill remains today, as expressed by the Helena Cathedral, Atlas building, and other structures both commercial and private.

As a young adult Bertha operated the Montana Power Company switchboard during the earthquake of 1935, rode Helena's trolley and danced and swam at the Broadwater. Bertha was intrigued by her ancestry — namely, grandmother Winifred Langton's sister, Theresa Langton Dorsey, mother of big band leaders, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

Preceded in death by her husband and her parents, she was also preceded in death by a brother, Edward Coyle; and two sisters, Mary Coyle and Elizabeth Coyle Flaherty.

In addition to her five children named above, Mrs. Leslie is survived by locally known grandchildren, Marca Robbin and David Gibson, and Tia Robbin and Dan Wilson; and great-grandchildren, Gage Gibson, Holt Gibson and Liv Wilson.

Funeral arrangements and a memorial service were accommodated through Michelotti-Sawyers Funeral Home of Billings, followed by urn committal next to her husband at Custer National Cemetery.