Gretchen Jean Browne, 51

Gretchen Jean Browne, 51, of Kalispell “was called home to heaven” on Jan. 23, 2013.

She was born in Yreka, Calif., on Aug. 24, 1961, to Charles and Naomi Burk. She graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics. There she met Donald Browne, who she would marry on August 6, 1983.

She had two children while the couple lived in Wyoming, Daniel and David, both of whom survive her. The family later moved to Montana, where Donald preached at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Whitefish. Gretchen was active in the congregation and was a loving mother to her two children. She moved the family from Whitefish to Kalispell after Don’s death due to brain cancer in 2001.

While raising her children on her own, she enrolled in courses online through Montana State University, seeking a degree in financial planning. She had nearly completed a master’s degree at the time of her passing. The strength of her work ethic was obvious to everyone, except perhaps herself.

Gretchen is preceded in death by her husband Donald in 2001, and brother Craig in 1990.

She is survived by her parents, Charles and Naomi Burk; her siblings, Donald and Kathleen; and her sons, Daniel and David.

She always sought to improve her mind, and was a devout listener of public radio. She loved reading and music, and it was her dream to one day attend the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s concert in Austria. Her sense of humor will be remembered and her strong faith admired by those she leaves behind.

Funeral Services for Gretchen will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell, with burial to follow immediately at Glacier Memorial Gardens, and a light luncheon at Trinity Lutheran to conclude.