Ada Mary (Smith) Felsman, 103
A special strong remarkable spirit freed the bonds of dementia and a failing body on July 27, 2010, leaving her beloved Flathead Valley to be at peace with her heavenly father and many loved ones who preceded her to the glory of Heaven. Ada was born on June 19, 1907, to Oliver Douglas and Christina (Grant) Smith who emigrated from Nova Scotia to Philipsburg. To ensure a good education for their children they relocated to the Flathead Valley. Ada was the sixth of nine children and the first to be born in the Flathead. She was born in Bigfork on June 19, 1907. Ada attended Creston grade school and Flathead County High School, earning her diploma in 1925. She continued her education, going to normal school that summer and commencing her teaching career at Creston School in the fall, at the age of 18. Ada s second teaching job took her to the west of Kalispell to Boorman School. While attending a box social she met her husband-to-be of 73 years, Herman Felsman. She and Herman married on Sept. 13, 1928, at the county fair at the fairgrounds being the grandstand show for the evening. Ada discontinued teaching, opting to devote her life to being a full-time wife and mother. She actively pursued her varied interest in homemaking, gardening, needlework, fishing and huckleberry picking. A meaningful part of her life was being involved with her church. After many years Ada returned to teaching, while pursing her Bachelor of Arts degree in education. She was granted her degree in 1966. Ada taught again at Boorman school and retired from teaching at Montford-Egan school. Ada was preceded in death by her parents, and all of her siblings, James Grant Smith, Oliver Smith, Margaret (Smith) Orr, Christine Smith Dean, Alice (Smith) Mac Rae, Vivian (Smith) Kenshella Managhan, Robert Smith and Amber (Smith) Collier; her husband, Herman Felsman; her first born child, Wilbur Dale Billie Felsman, who died tragically at the age of 5 in 1935; and two great-grandchildren, Anna Moe and Danny Fine. She is survived by two daughters, Patricia (Felsman) Fine of Missoula, and Sharon (Felsman) Bench of Spokane; five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 31, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 31, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home; burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A reception will follow at the First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell. You are invited to go to www.buffalohillfh.com to sign Ada s book or leave a message for the family.