Sharon Godfrey Hufstetler, 77

On April 22, 2016, we said goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, wife and friend, Sharon Godfrey Hufstetler. She passed peacefully in her own home under the constant and loving care of her husband Glen.

Sharon was born on Sept. 25, 1938, in Ogden, Utah, to Melvin Alonso and Elsie Bues Godfrey. She was the oldest and spunkiest child and was later joined by her brother Gary and sister and best friend Gloria. She remained in Ogden her entire childhood. She attended school in Ogden at Washington Elementary, Washington Junior High and Ogden High School, graduating in 1956. During that time she learned to play piano and developed an appreciation for music and the arts. She was also part of a baton twirling troupe and worked as a car hop at a local restaurant.

After graduation she went on to attend Weber State College for a short time and worked for Dr. Dean Tanner as a medical assistant for several years. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Robert Glen Hufstetler. They were married on May 24, 1957, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They resided in Ogden for a short time and then bought a small ranch in Liberty, Utah, and there began their love for the outdoors and farm life.

Montana was calling to them and they found themselves leaving their friends and family behind on an adventure that would span many decades. They purchased a large cattle ranch in Bigfork in 1960 and worked the land, milked the cows and started their family. Rob was the first to arrive, followed by Heidi and Mark. The farm was then sold and her family moved to Kalispell. It was during this time that the youngest daughter Carin joined the family.

Sharon and her husband Glen opened a small school in their basement called the Positive Learning Center. They hired several teachers and worked with children who were struggling in school, tutoring them and helping them with social skills. Sharon very much enjoyed the role of mother and wife and took on responsibilities that would improve her own family life. She was always active in the PTA program at Cornelius Hedges School and served as president and all other capacities there. She was an active member of her church and served diligently in her church callings as both ward and stake primary president, Relief Society president, Relief Society counselor, primary teacher, and Gospel doctrine teacher, among other callings. One of her most recent roles and one that she held very dear to her heart was working with the young women in the church. They brought her so much joy and were so kind to her as her health began to take a turn for the worse.

Sharon had a deep appreciation for the arts and began taking calligraphy classes at Flathead Valley Community College. She became a beautiful calligrapher and even taught classes at that same college. She shared that art with many family members and members of the community. She also worked for School District 5 as the attendance clerk at Kalispell Junior High School until her retirement.

Throughout her many years and many phases of her life here in Kalispell she has made wonderful friends that she considers to be family. They loved her for her spunk and sassiness and her willingness to always open her home to strangers. She had an ability to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. She was a collector of antiques and had a natural knack for home decorating. She was also a fabulous cook and rarely did the family sit down to a holiday meal without friends and sometimes strangers at their table. She served everyone she met and had deep concern and compassion for their well-being.

Sharon will be missed greatly and is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, R. Glen Hufstetler; her children, Robert G. Hufstetler and Pam, Heidi Wright and Steve, Mark Hufstetler and Rachel, and Carin Leeb. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren, Amanda, Logan, Tana, Jamie, Jessica, Hanna, Ry, Jordyn, Anna, Henry, Emily, Christian and Zach; and two great-grandchildren, Saylor and Madden; along with her sister, Gloria, and Rubert Funk; and her brother, Gary, and Emily Godfrey. She will also be missed by 25 neices and nephews, along with many lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Elsie Godfrey.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home where a viewing will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 29. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at 1380 Whitefish Stage, Kalispell, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) with a viewing beginning at 1 p.m. We welcome all friends and family to join us as we celebrate the life of this beautiful lady.