Alma Jean Kellenberger, 92

Alma Jean Kellenberger passed away May 14, 2014 in Fort Collins, Colo., after battling Alzheimer’s for many years.

Jean was born Nov. 22, 1921, to Arthur and Nelle Blom in Glendive.

At the age of six her family moved to Livingston where her younger brother Arthur was born. Her father worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad as an accountant and her mother was a schoolteacher as well as a bookkeeper for several shops in Livingston. She enjoyed traveling on the train as she was growing up.

She attended St. Mary’s Catholic College in Leavenworth, Kan. After graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree, she worked in Billings, Denver and St. Louis as a lab technician. It was in St. Louis where she met her husband, Robert Kellenberger, while he was studying medicine after having served in the Army during World War II. Jean married Robert in June 1950, in Alton, Ill. While they moved frequently due to her husband’s military career, they eventually settled down in Kalispell after her husband retired from the Army, reaching the rank of colonel. Her husband Robert continued his medical career while in Kalispell. Jean worked as a lab technician for him at his lab near Kalispell Regional Hospital. Jean and Robert were married for 50 years.

Jean was a devout Catholic, a gifted pianist who played for over 70 years and a very charitable person, donating to many charities. The nursing staff, which took care of Jean over the last few years, enjoyed her wonderful sense of humor. She was a loving mother and wife, and will be missed dearly.

She was preceded in death by her oldest son, James; her husband, Robert; her father, Arthur; her mother, Nelle; and her daughter-in-law, Rita.

She is survived by her children, David, John, Joan and Scott Grieve, and Karen and Terry Sander; her grandchildren, Andrew Grieve, Samuel Grieve and Kevyn Sander; her brother, Arthur; and one niece and several nephews.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 26 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27 at Risen Christ Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  

To send a note of condolence. please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.