Leslie Ann Bergman-Lewellen, 62

Leslie Ann Bergman-Lewellen, 62, of Kalispell, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at her home surrounded by loved ones, after a battle with metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

For her children she showed strength and courage during her four-month struggle. She continues the battle with cancer, as she donated her body to medical science and education research. Her generous donation will allow research institutions to discover new ways to fight serious diseases and disorders such as cancer.

Leslie was the fifth of eight children to Walter “Boots” Bergman and Nellie “Toots” Hegg-Bergman.

Leslie was educated in Kalispell schools where she lived her entire life. Kalispell is where she met and married Jesse Lewellen. Together they had five children.

In December of 1981 Leslie and her children were sadly left alone with the death of her husband Jesse. A popular quote heard from Mom to her kids was, “No matter how bad you think you've got it, there are others who have it worse.” This was an important lesson she imparted to her kids. Self-pity was not tolerated.

Another fun quote was, “If you're doing something you don't want anyone to know about, you shouldn't be doing it.”

Leslie was a fanatic when it came to her children and their sporting events. Often she could be distinctly heard from the crowd cheering. The cheering was mixed, sometimes with joy and elation, and other times with despair and agony. No matter the outcome, she was always a proud and supportive mother. How did she juggle the needs of five children, school, and extra activities all while working sometimes two jobs?

When Leslie became a grandmother, the word “no” magically disappeared from her vocabulary. With grandbabies, it was love times 10. Nothing was off limits when it came to the babies, all to the dismay of her children who had to “grin and bear it.” Leslie once volunteered as a crossing guard, simply to be the first to see her grandson William after school.

Food and people were her passion, and she made a successful career at it. Her strong and long career in the food service industry brought her great satisfaction, respect and many close friends. Leslie owned and operated a catering business, which hosted some of her closest friends’ parties and gatherings. This industry was a perfect fit for a mother who loved nothing more than to feed people and make them feel good.

While great food and special parties played a large role in Leslie's life, her five children came first and foremost. She was the proud mother of four sons and one daughter.

She was a strong and honest woman who faced adversity without self-pity. Through her own resilience, humor and great work ethic, she set an example and a standard for her children to follow. She believed children should be loved and feel lovable and that they should be respectful and responsible. Leslie was not only a mother to her own, but she opened her home to countless others in need.

She enjoyed playing poker, doing crossword puzzles and countless games of Scrabble with her best friend, and the love of her life, Chad Sylvester. She loved to play cards, not just for the game, but mostly for the deep friendships she had developed with her “poker buddies.”

She is survived by her children, Jess and Deb Lewellen; Richard and Bobbi Jo Lewellen, and their children, Kiah, Kate, Angelo and Anyssa; daughter, Lisa Lewellen and her son, Masen Povich-Lewellen; Bill and Cecilia Lewellen, and their children, William and Brady; and Ben Lewellen.

She had seven siblings, all of whom she loved deeply, Barbara Sundberg, Arlene Eakert, Linda Ward, Connie Bergmann, Janice Geldrich, Sharon Omholt and Richard “Bick” Bergmann; and several nieces and nephews; and her love and best friend Chad Sylvester.

We would like to sincerely thank friends and family who assisted with care. We would also like to give a special thanks to aunt and sister Jan Geldrich who went above and beyond with selfless giving.

A celebration of Leslie's life will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either St. Jude Children's Hospital or the Violence Free Crisis Line of Kalispell.