Happ, city's first female mayor, dies at age of 88

The first female mayor in Kalispell history died Wednesday, leaving a pioneering legacy in her wake.

Norma Edmiston Happ, 88, was the first woman elected to the Kalispell City Council and served several terms starting in the mid-1960s. She was also the first woman elected mayor, serving until 1982.

She died at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell due to complications from a stroke.

She is survived by two children, Craig Happ of Missoula and Laurie Happ of Kalispell, as well as many friends and colleagues. She had been married to Kalispell Realtor Robert Happ.

Her brother, Jim Edmiston, recalls early days of playing with his sister at Bitterroot Lake as just one of many fond memories.

“She was an interesting person who made life interesting,” he said. “She was a great lady, there’s no question about that. She always pursued her ideas.”

Duane Larson, who was assistant chief of the Kalispell Fire Department while Happ was mayor, recalls a woman who cared deeply for her hometown.

“She was a real wonderful lady to work for,” he said. “She was always accommodating and a real smooth-running mayor. The best thing I could say is she always had the best interests of the city of Kalispell at heart.”

Larson became fire chief after Happ left office, but worked with her again on the board of the Northwest Montana Historical Society.

“I worked with her for a number of years,” he said. “She was always doing good things for the city.”

Happ was born and raised in Kalispell and gave a lifetime of public service to her home town. She was Kalispell’s “Lady of the Year” in 1975 and hired the city’s first Community Development Director.

Wayne Saverud, a current City Council member, said her tenure is partly responsible for Kalispell looking the way it does.

“She started the Urban Renewal Program, so Kalispell looks a lot different today than it might if she wasn’t in office,” he said. “She was a real spark plug. She exuded energy. From my point of view, the community is a much better place thanks to her.”

Happ had many interests, including music, local history and the Hockaday Museum of Art.

The second female mayor in Kalispell history, Pam Kennedy Carbonari, served from 2002 to 2009. She said Happ’s leadership set a foundation for her tenure.

“While I didn’t spend much time in City Hall while Happ was in office, she was obviously an influence on me as mayor,” Carbonari said. “It was a very significant time for her to run for mayor in Kalispell and signified a changing time in the city. She was a great leader and she will be sorely missed.”

The third and most recent female mayor, Tammi Fisher, was close to Happ and saw her as a mentor and friend. The loss was a personal one, and Fisher spoke warmly of Happ.

“Her grace under fire, her dedication and service to the city of Kalispell, her charm and wit were attributes I deeply admired and respected,” Fisher said. “She had an uncanny ability to sum up complicated situations with just a few words, and she was a great support and resource to me when I was mayor. She will be missed greatly; heaven has gained a remarkable soul.”

Services for Happ are pending.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.