Beverly Ann Sankovic, 81

Beverly Ann Sankovic, 81, passed away on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. She was born on Aug. 2, 1928, in Sanish, N.D., to August and Leota (Peterson) Meyers. Bev grew up in Sanish, a town of about 500 residents. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom on the farm. Her father was a farmer and eventually became a traveling office supply salesman. She was the fourth of six children in the family that included three older sisters, a younger brother and a younger sister. Bev attended grades 1-12 at the school in town which was about two miles from the farm house where she was raised. As a child growing up on a farm, Bev was expected to help with the morning chores before leaving for school. The chores consisted of milking the cows, separating the milk and feeding the pigs. Often the temperature in North Dakota got below zero, making the walk to school a bit of a challenge. These extreme conditions cause her to become quite creative in the effort to fight the cold. She found that scarves would freeze to their faces, so Bev and her siblings would place a cardboard box over their head for some protection. Prior to her move from North Dakota to Montana, Bev got a teaching degree at Minot State Teacher s College in Minot, N.D. After the move to Montana she was a teacher for one year at a small school (Boorman School). Bev married Joe Sankovic on Nov. 6, 1972, in Couer d Alene, Idaho. They enjoyed more than 35 years together. Her friends and family will so miss the sick presents, her famous potato salad and meatballs, which are a sure bet she would be invited to parties if she brought them. Her perseverance showed by raising three daughters alone and working two full-time jobs. She was the epitome of a role model. She worked as a credit and customer service representative for Pacific Power and Light, as well as in a real estate office, and then she would go to work at Hennessy s from six in the evening until the early hours of the morning. Bev was a member of the First Baptist Church in Kalispell, as well as a board member of Energy Share. To quote Bev, My humble advice and message for the younger generation would be to work as long as you possibly can, listen to and take heed of what your elders have to say for they can be great mentors. I urge you, above all, to love and take care of eachother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Sankovic; her parents; two sisters, Betty Dinwoodie and Ardelle Sorenson; and her in-laws, Clark and Evelyn Mason. She is survived by her three daughters, Patty Fisher and husband, Phil, and Pam Berry and husband, Buzz, of Kalispell, and Paula Mattern and husband, Brian, of Olney; stepdaughter, Ruth Greco, of New Jersey; stepson, Michael Sankovic, of Hawaii; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Larry Meyers, of Washington; sisters, Marilyn Ellingson and Sharon Driscoll, both of Washington; as well as wonderful and supportive friends too numerous to name. Funeral services for Bev will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at the First Baptist Church, 301 W. Wyoming, in Kalispell, with Pastor Jim Sandholt officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to noon Monday at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Energy Share; The Montana Heart Fund, 600 Central Plaza No. 304, Great Falls, MT 59401; or the First Baptist Church, 301 Wyoming, Kalispell, MT 59901. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Bev s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Bev s tribute wall.