Melinda 'Linda' Kay Meacham Bartsch, 64

Melinda “Linda” Kay Meacham Bartsch, born on March 31, 1950, in Kalispell, died on May 20, 2014, in Whitefish.

Melinda was the only child of Fred and Mollie Sheldon Meacham also of Kalispell. She attended Kalispell schools, Russell Elementary School, Central Junior High and Flathead County High School, graduating from high school in 1968. She attended Flathead Valley Community College from 1969 to 1971 and returned to FVCC later to finish an Associate of Applied Science and an Associate of Arts degrees.

Melinda married Jerry Bartsch of Kalispell in 1975. Two sons were born in this marriage, Samuel Clayton Bartsch (1976), and Kevin Richard Bartsch (1978). Sam and Kevin were the light of her life even though being a mother of two boys was not always easy. Seeing them mature into two fine young men made all of her efforts worthwhile. Melinda and Jerry divorced in 1984, and they eventually remarried in 1994, but later happily separated and remained so until Melinda’s death on May 20.

Melinda worked at Valley Bank in Kalispell from 1972 to 1975 as a bookkeeper and also at the Immanuel Lutheran Home as a housekeeper. Melinda and Jerry bought a home in Columbia Falls in 1976. Jerry went to work for the U.S. Forest Service and later for Plum Creek Fiberboard until his retirement.

Melinda returned to FVCC in 1987 to participate in a clerical training program and earned a one-year certificate in word processing/clerical studies. She later returned to FVCC as an administrative assistant in the same clerical training program from which she graduated. When that job ended, Melinda worked as a home health care aide for a number of years.

As a child, Melinda loved to go to the family cabin on Flathead Lake near Rollins for weekends for many years. She had many fond memories of family reunions held at that location and is proud of the rich history on both sides of her family.

Melinda’s parents had numerous relatives in the Flathead Valley, some arriving as early as 1873 from West Virginia. Her father arrived in Kalispell on a stage coach in 1920 coming from Utica, Mont.

Melinda was fortunate to be a part of a large, loving family as she was growing up. She knew that she will be united with her loved ones in heaven. Melinda was also blessed with numerous close friends to whom she is eternally grateful for their care and support during good times as well as bad times.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 23, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Urn burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.