Paula Altenburg, 87

Paula Altenburg, beloved mother, grandmother, wife and friend, passed away on Monday, April 4, 2016, in Kalispell, surrounded by family who will miss her dearly.

Paula was born Paula Maria Ludovica DeWinter on Jan. 8, 1929, as the second child to August and Maria DeWinter in Brasschaat, Belgium, where she grew up with her two sisters and two brothers. Her grandmother’s flour mill, which was run by Paula’s father and family, was next door and connected to their family home in Belgium. Both were the setting of many stories of large, extended family gatherings and of more difficult times during World War II.

After her father’s life was lost during the war, Paula worked hard to earn enough for her passage to the United States in 1950. She was the first of her family to immigrate to the U.S., and soon after she arrived in the Kalispell area she met Richard, her beloved husband of 62 years. Paula and Richie were married in 1951 and together operated their now third- generation family farm just north of Somers and raised their three children.

Paula was admired by all who experienced her warm hospitality, her captivating smile, and her unbeatable home cooking, which had a definite Belgian flare that kept friends and family coming back to visit time after time through the years. Among many other talents that she developed, Paula mastered the arts of baking, gardening, sewing her kids’ clothing, and eventually designed, helped build and decorated her dream home on the family farm. Paula always found a way to make things beautiful, including her flower garden, her home and all that she set her mind to accomplish. Paula and Richard worked hard and played hard with their family and friends, enjoying fishing, playing cards, hosting barbecue and dinner gatherings, and traveling together.

Paula was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her brothers, sisters and her parents.

She is survived by her children, Robert, Denise and Nicole Altenburg; her granddaughter, Mia; and her sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, as well as several extended family members in Belgium.

A memorial will be held for family and friends at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, 525 S. Main, Kalispell, with a luncheon afterward to be announced.