Kathleen Mills (Riedy) Bowne, 68
Kathleen Mills (Riedy) Bowne, 68, passed away Nov. 10, 2015, in Kalispell, after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 68 years old. Kathy spent 34 years teaching special education in three school districts.
Kathy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1947, to James and Ida Riedy. She attended school in Waukesha, Wisconsin, graduating from Waukesha High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and a master’s degree from Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado.
She taught in the Pueblo, Colorado, Missoula and Columbia Falls, school districts. She worked as a sales clerk in Milwaukee, Missoula and Kalispell. She also worked for Head Start in Columbia Falls.
Kathy married Louis C. Bowne on Oct. 23, 1976, in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Two daughters, Louise Mary and Emily Jean, were born to this union.
While her daughters were in high school, she and her husband hosted two exchange students, Marco from Italy and Thavikarn “Ying” from Thailand.
After retirement, she enjoyed travelling with her husband, both in an RV and on cruise ships. They visited many of the states, as well as several Canadian provinces. They visited Alaska, traveling to a village above the Arctic Circle, touring Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks, then cruising from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia. They cruised around the Hawaiian Islands and traveled to Key West, Florida, where they took a boat trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. They visited New York City seeing Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial, One World Center, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Bowne House and Bowne Stationers. They spent several days in New Orleans. They also visited most of the national parks and monuments west of the Mississippi River and many in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Alabama. They especially enjoyed living near Glacier National Park and made annual trips into it. One very special trip was to Italy to witness the wedding of Marco and Giovanna. This trip included stops in London, Paris, Interlaken, Switzerland, Venice, the island of Sardinia and Rome. Both daughters and their son-in-law were also able to attend the wedding.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Louis, of Columbia Falls; daughters, Louise of Minnesota, and Emily Sell and Andrew and grandson Steven of Colorado; and sister, Mary Lou Riedy, and friend H. Joan Bruggink, of Wisconsin. She is also survived by an aunt, a brother-in-law and spouse, and three nephews.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, and father-in-law Robert Bowne.
Memorials may be made to Flathead County Animal Control, Columbia Falls Food Bank, National Education Association, American Cancer Society, All Saints Episcopal Church, Columbia Falls, Ascension Episcopal Church in Pueblo, Colorado, or a charity of one’s choosing.
A celebration of life will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2048 Conn Road, Columbia Falls, with a reception to follow the service.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.