Clara Marlys Kopitzke, 90

On Saturday, June 13, 2015, Clara Marlys Kopitzke passed away after an extended illness at North Valley Hospital with her entire family by her side.

She was born on March 30, 1925, to Ethel and Harry Nieland in Hancock, Minnesota, one of six children and was the last surviving member of the Nieland family.

She met her husband, George, in Minnesota and they were married when he returned from World War II, December 21, 1946, in Kelso, Washington. They spent 56 great years together raising four rambunctious boys. She moved from Minnesota in the late 1940s to Kelso and in 1954 moved to Columbia Falls where George was employed at the Anaconda Aluminum Company. During the war, Marlys worked in the Longview Shipyard and after she was married Marlys was first of all a homemaker and mother and later spent several years working in the local Gambles Hardware store.

The last couple weeks of her life the family and friends enjoyed the stories of her life, her terrific sense of humor and her unwavering love and devotion to her family and friends.

She was so active playing pinochle, bridge, bowling and was still golfing at the age of 85. She was active in the United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday schools when the boys were little and later volunteering for many of the church functions. She also volunteered at the Columbia Falls Food Bank, Chamber of Commerce and played cribbage with the kid at local schools.

For several winters she and George went south, took a road trip to Alaska and enjoyed getting out and seeing the country. They followed the boys in there athletic endeavors and never missed a game, concert or other event the kids were in. She was so proud of her four boys and what they have accomplished. She also enjoyed spending so much time camping at Lake Five with their three grandchildren that she so adored. She wasn’t a by-stander as she rode “Big Red” with the kids around the lake, swan and did everything the kids could do.

She was preceeded in death by her husband, George, brothers, Ralph, Lee, and Harry, and sisters, Leone, and Joyce.

She is survived by her four sons, Dennis, and wife Linda, Forsyth, Gene, and wife Linda, of Columbia Falls, Ron, and partner Sarah, of Columbia Falls and Mike, and wife, Kelly, of Missoula and grandsons, Dylan, Billings, Lucas, Missoula and granddaughter, Megan, husband Cody, Victor, MT.

Services will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, June 20, at the United Methodist Church, 117 Second Street W. in Columbia Falls with a reception to follow at the church. Friends may make donations to the Columbia Falls Food Bank or the charity of their choice.

Columbia Mortuary is caring for Clara’s family.