Erma Sophie Matt, 84

Erma Sophie Matt, 84, of Big Arm, passed away at her home on Monday, May 16, 2011.

She was born on May 30, 1926, in Polson, to Mary Finley and Art Marengo. At age 3, she was adopted by Cecille Stasso and Phillip Kallowat and was raised in Dayton. She attended schools in Elmo, the Ursuline Academy in St. Ignatius, Thompson Falls, and graduated from Polson High School in 1945.

In July of 1946, Sophie married Joseph Matt of St. Ignatius and together they had four children, Randall, Barbara, Dean and Rik. Sophie was a stay-at-home mom until her husband, Joe, was hurt and then retired in 1975. She then went to work at the Kalispell Library and with the Kootenai tribe of Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho, where she translated documents from Kootenai to English or vice versa. She was also a history book writer for the Kootenai Culture Committee for 10 years and also worked for 13 years for the CSKT Elderly Program, and many years as a Kootenai language instructor for the Salish Kootenai College, where in 2009, she received an honorary degree.

Sophie was an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes and a fluent speaker of the Kootenai language. She loved to bead, knit, crochet, play stick games, cards, bingo, keno and traveling.

She was preceded in death by both sets of parents; her husband Joe; her sons, Randall, Dean and Rik; daughter, Barbara Matt Clark; James Kallowat; brothers, Howard Kallowat Sr., and Howdy Saloway; and many aunts and uncles.

Sophie is survived by her grandson, Robert Clark, of Kalispell; a sister, Ruby Finley, of Wellpinit, Wash.; aunts, Mary Stasso and Louise Stasso, both of Arlee; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Wake services will begin at 2 p.m. today, May 18, at Elmo Hall with a vigil service beginning at 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 19, at the Hall. Burial will be in Dayton Cemetery, Dayton.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Matt’s family.