Woman charged with stealing from PTA

A woman is facing a felony theft charge after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the Somers-Lakeside Parent-Teacher Association to fund a gambling habit.

Kendra Dalke, former treasurer for the organization, was charged on Wednesday.

According to court documents, Dalke admitted to the organization’s leadership in November 2015 that she took $4,600 from the association. The fund is used to give teachers classroom grants outside the school’s budget. The bulk of the money comes from the organization’s major winter fundraiser, Holidayfest.

A Flathead County sheriff’s deputy interviewed Dalke on Nov. 17. Dalke allegedly said that she had become treasurer for the group in 2014 and had transferred $2,000 from the PTA account to her personal account in September 2015.

Dalke allegedly also confessed to using the PTA debit card to withdraw money on numerous occasions. Dalke estimated she had spent between $4,600 and $4,800. She allegedly told the deputy that a gambling problem led her to take the money.

However, an audit of the organization’s accounts — including transactions from December 6, 2014, to November 4, 2015 — revealed that $7,686.75 was missing.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.