Gladys Doris Eisele Brist, 91

Gladys Doris Eisele Brist, 91, passed away on April 16, 2011, at her home in Whitefish.

She was born on Dec. 9, 1919, in Hutchinson, Minn., to Edward and Amelia Eisele. She attended schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana.  Gladys graduated from Flathead County High School in 1937. Following graduation, she took a post-graduate course in business administration. She operated her own accounting service for many years.

On March 19, 1938, Gladys married Howard B. Brist in Kalispell. They loved and laughed and cried through 42 wonderful, loving years together. Howard died Jan. 10, 1980.

Gladys enjoyed traveling and had toured 46 states in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as 24 foreign countries, some of them, several times. She always had her suitcase and passport handy to be ready for another adventure.

She loved fishing and hunting, and huckleberry and mushroom picking. A summer could not pass without finding Gladys and Howard, along with a bevy of friends or relatives clambering about the mountainsides gathering those amazing huckleberries we all craved.

Her hunting fame was pretty much worldwide. Pictures of our mom and her famous moose traveled around many of the United States, Canada and Europe. She single-handedly nailed a trophy bull moose with one shot right between the eyes. That act made Gladys the envy of most strong men, not to mention a lot of gals.

Gladys deeply loved her family, her many good friends, her “Little House” as she called it, and “her Montana.” She and her beloved Howard showed us all what it meant to be a true team. She was a loving and devoted mom and grandma to her sons and their families, and a close and caring daughter, sister and aunt. We knew she was always there for us. No questions asked.  She was a faithful friend, and firm and dependable ally to everyone she met throughout her long and happy lifetime. The empty silhouette in the picture of our lives will never truly be filled again.

In addition to her husband Howard, Gladys was preceded in death by her father on June 13, 1938; her brother, Russell, on July 19, 1985; her brother, Walter, on Dec. 11, 1989; her mother, on June 14, 1990;  her sister, Grace, on Dec. 23, 1994; and her son, Leland, on June 14, 2005.

She is survived by her son, Ronald W. Brist, and his wife, Ardes, of Whitefish; daughter-in-law, Mary Brist, of Kalispell; 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren; her brother, Wayne Eisele, of Scottsbluff, Neb.; and many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Having been a member of the Women of the Moose in Whitefish for just shy of 60 years, she has requested the Women of the Moose participate in her memorial services to be held at 1 p.m. on May 1, at the Moose Lodge, 230 West 10th Street, Whitefish. A private urn burial will be at a later date.

Gladys' dear sister-in-law, Linda Brist, will be officiating. A reception will follow the services.

The family wishes that memorials be made to the Home Options Hospice, 430 Windward Way, Suite 101, Kalispell, Montana 59901. Their comforting presence and assistance throughout has been deeply appreciated. Many thanks to Dr. Charles Dixon for his gentle kindness with our “Little Mother.”

Arrangements are entrusted to Austin Funeral Home. You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences and view Gladys' tribute wall.