Glenda B. Leigh, 62

On Sunday morning, Oct. 28, 2012, Glenda B. Leigh, 62, “went to a place where she is forever young and free from all pain and suffering.”

 She was born on Sept. 11, 1950, in Whitefish, the daughter of Barbara and Glen Roose of Eureka. 

While attending Eastern Montana College in Billings, she met her future husband Steve Leigh of Broadview, Mont. She finished her education at Eastern and started her career as a special education teacher at Broadview and surrounding communities. 

The couple's first son, Erik Charles, joined the family in 1978. In the early 1980s, they moved to Eureka where she continued her teaching career until her retirement. Their second son, Ian Scot, joined the family in 1983. She loved her "boys" and was very proud to be their "mom." She welcomed her "daughters" Alida Glidden and Melissa Brandon into the family, and her heart was full to bursting when Erik and Alida blessed her with her new best friend, granddaughter Keirsi Kay, in December of 2003.

Glenda loved her friends and family and had formed some special bonds with many she had worked with during her years as teacher. She developed a passion for scrapbooking and had a special talent for it, producing albums that her family will cherish for the rest of their lives. 

Glenda loved the Episcopal Church and had a deep personal faith that gave her much comfort through the years. She loved the home and yard that she and Steve had on Glen Lake Road. Much enjoyment came from watching the birds from the living room window. She expressed much regret that she wasn't able to do more in the yard and garden because of her declining health, but made up for it in the profound enjoyment she took from just looking at it. 

She loved and missed her extended family from Broadview, mother-in-law Marion Leigh, sister-in-law Kathy Slyder, and sister-in-law Bev Schultz and husband Dutch, and all of the nephews and nieces from the prairies.

She is survived by her husband, Steve, of Eureka; two sons, Erik, Alida and Keirsi Kay of Libby, and Ian and Melissa of Eureka; her mother, Barbara Roose, of Eureka; sisters, Shirley Carlson of Great Falls, Sheila Graham and husband Bob of Spokane, and Robyn DeWitt and husband Jeff of Kalispell; brother, Barry Roose, of Kalispell; and numerous nephews and nieces.

There are no plans for public services at this time, but to honor Glenda’s memory, she would be happy if you made donations to whatever cause you are passionate about. Most importantly, she would tell you that if you have someone near and dear to you please tell them often that you love them. 

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka.