Mercedes (Baertsch) LeDesky, 89

Mercedes (Baertsch) LeDesky, 89, died May 26, 2012, at her home in Polson.

Mercedes was born May 7, 1923, in Polson.

She lived her early years on the family homestead in Proctor, Mont. Moving to Polson at age 6, she graduated high school in 1941. She then earned a degree in education from Western Montana College in Dillon.

Mercedes worked as “welder assistance” in the boat yards of Seattle to assist in the war effort. Her first teaching job was in Choteau, Mont., where she met and married Wayne LeDesky. They had two children and farmed in that area until 1955.

Following a brief move to Washington, the family returned to the Flathead and lived in Ronan where she taught for 17 years. The family built the Westside Resthome and managed it for five years. They retired and lived in Bigfork and then Kalispell.

Her real passion in life was golf. She organized and/or played in hundreds of tournaments during her retirement years.

Mercedes was preceded in death by her first son, Jim, and her husband, Wayne. She is survived by son Jere (Lois) of Mesa, Ariz., grandchildren James, Faith Kjerstie, Jeremy and Alyson, and great-grandson Dylan Cooksey. Surviving Baertsch siblings are Lillian (91) of Great Falls, John (94) of Helena, and Buck (93) and Oscar (96), both of Polson, and many fine nephews and nieces throughout Montana.

Services will be scheduled at a later date.