Barbara Jean Ott Reynolds, 77

Barbara Jean Ott Reynolds passed away at home on Sept. 3, 2010, surrounded by her family. She was born in Bemidji, Minn., on April 30, 1933, to Emil and Else Ott, the seventh of 10 children. When she was in high school her family moved to Columbia Falls. However, she choose to remain in Bemidji to finish school. She moved into an apartment above the movie theater where she was working. She soon discovered that she missed her family and she too moved to Columbia Falls. It was there that she met the love of her life, Charles Ray Reynolds. They were married on March 3, 1951, at Our Savior s Lutheran Church and began their life together, both working and living at the Montana Veterans Home. In February 1952, Charles joined the Army and after basic training, he was sent to Ulm, Germany. Barbara soon joined him, sailing on the Queen Elizabeth. With the birth of their first child, Christy Rae Reynolds, in 1953, Barbara gladly took on the role of homemaker and dedicated the rest of her life to taking care of her family. The family soon expanded to five with the birth of Vicki Jean Reynolds in 1955, and Roxann Elizabeth Reynolds Weaver in 1959. She loved sewing clothes for her three girls, knitting, crocheting, gardening, canning and providing home-cooked meals and a warm, cozy home. As a family, some of the fondest memories are the weekends spent camping and fishing on Bitterroot Lake. Most of their married life was spent living in Columbia Falls, where Charles worked at Plum Creek Timber Co. for 43 years. After his retirement they moved to Kalispell, eventually settling into a house at Village Greens Golf Course. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Else; her brothers, Arthur Ott of Racine, Wis., and George Ott of Placerville, Calif.; and her sister, Delores Toftum Cox of Columbia Falls. She is survived by her husband, Charles, of Kalispell; children, Christy Reynolds of San Diego, Calif., Vicki Reynolds of Helena, and Roxann Weaver of Kalispell. Charles and Barbara have five grandchildren, Justin Taylor, Marie Taylor, Aaron Helgert, Philip Reinhold and Jacob Reinhold. Barbara is also survived by five brothers, LeRoy Ott of Green Bay, Wis., Floyd Ott of Columbia Falls, Richard Ott of Kalispell, Emil Ott Jr. of Placerville, Calif., and Glenn Ott of Hutchinson, Minn.; and one sister, Judith Campbell of Anderson, Calif. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Barbara was a huge supporter of Montana Special Olympics and always donated graciously in the name of her grandson, Justin Taylor. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to Montana Special Olympics.