Ralene Kay (Johnson) Sliter, 68

For Ralene Kay (Johnson) Sliter “the music here on Earth stopped” Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, after a three-year private battle with stage-4 breast cancer.

Ralene was the third born of five “Rs” to the Laura Frieda (Schulte) and George Ellsworth Johnson family. The young family relocated often as George's career with IBM reflected the “I've Been Moved” philosophy to promote successful salesmen.

Ralene is survived by her mother, Laura Johnson Parker, of Rockville, Maryland; brother, Richard Johnson, of Santa Barbara, California; and brother, Randel Johnson, of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Immediate surviving family members are husband, Thomas E. Sliter, of Kalispell; daughter, Andrea Goudge, and husband, Bill, of Scottsdale, Arizona; daughter, Laura Sorensen, husband Christian, grandson Beck and granddaughter Greta of Orange, California; son, Andrew Sliter, wife Deborah, granddaughter Abigail, and grandsons Fisher and Graham of Bigfork; and daughter, Linda A.J. Yearous, and husband, Ryan, of Missoula. 

Ralene was preceded in death by her father, George Johnson; older brother, Roger Johnson; and younger sister, Rianne Willey.

Ralene graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1968. At Valpo, Ralene met her husband Tom and they were married (46 years) at the Church of the Cross in Rockville where her family were founding members. The young couple initially made their home in Valpo while Tom finished school and Ralene worked for the IBM Data Processing Division's Metals and Manufacturing branch office, in the Orders and Movements Department at Hammond, Indiana. Their first home was in was in Highland, Indiana. After working at IBM for a few years, Ralene raised her kids and was an active and vibrant community volunteer. After several moves to Hazelcrest, Illinois, then Homewood, Illinois, in 1979 the family moved to Kalispell, where they made their home on the “F” hill.  Ralene juggled shuttling youngsters to school, athletic practices, school functions and volunteering her spare time at numerous Flathead Valley organizations and charities, including Trinity Lutheran Church and School and Kalispell Regional Hospital. 

Ralene loved life, in the Flathead and far away. As a youngster, Ralene loved the adventure of epic family road trips with her parents and four siblings across the country. As a high-schooler, Ralene toured the country witnessing with Walther League, a Lutheran youth organization. As an adult, travel for business and leisure took Ralene far and wide —  to Thailand, England, China, France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Hong Kong. Business trips were balanced by mixing in a play, symphony, concert or museum. Trips to Maryland to visit her mother, brothers and sister were filled with nostalgia, memories of walking the canal, visiting the government monuments and celebrating the next generation's wedding and birthdays.

Ralene was the glue that held family together. Ralene loved after-church excursions to Glacier Park. Ralene's favorites included picnicking at Apgar, hiking the Trail of the Cedars, cross country skiing, biking, touring on the jammer busses, stopping at Izaak Walton and boating. Ralene delighted in feeding ducks at Woodland Park, sharing coffee with close friends, sailing, boating and fishing up the Flathead River, planning birthday parties and weddings, cheering the Griz, and giving grandkids rides on her back until enough was enough. Ralene loved her morning bottomless cup of coffee at “McD’s” until the cup handle broke.  

Ralene dedicated her life to make her adopted hometown a better community for all. Ralene was an active member of the Flathead County Republican Women and chaired the organization's signature fundraising event, Chocolate Extravaganza, for many years. Ralene also was a past president of the BM chapter of PEO. Ralene's love of music inspired her involvement with the League of Glacier Orchestra and Chorale where she served as president.

Ralene served on the Foundation board for the Flathead Valley Community College for many years until her election to the board of trustees for FVCC, where she served until her death. 

For those who would like to make a donation to honor the memory of Ralene, please consider the Ralene Sliter Student Success Endowed Scholarship; www.fvcc.edu/sliterscholarship.

A tradition at family events includes singing an old German song, “Hoch sollen Sie leben!” May you live well! Ralene put the song into practice in her life.  

There will be a viewing from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church. A celebration of life will be held on Friday evening, details to be announced.  

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Ralene's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Ralene's Tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.