Linda Blanc, 72

Our mom and grandma, Linda Blanc, entered this world on Feb. 6, 1946.

She passed on “to a better place” on Friday March 16, 2018, in Kalispell.

Linda was born to Lowell and Ruth Bergstrom in Portland. She was soon joined by a brother, John. The family moved to Willard, Montana, when Linda was young, eventually purchasing a ranch southeast of Ekalaka in the Tie Creek area. This was a place that Mom loved dearly. She attended a one room country school, and graduated from Carter County High School. She went on to obtain a bachelor degree in education from Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Mom accepted a teaching position in Gas Hills, Wyoming, where she met Leonard Blanc. The two were married on July 6, 1968. They had a daughter Lori, and son Lon.

Leonard and Linda lived in several areas in western Colorado. Mom worked beside Dad on the ranches, and later did the bookkeeping for the family business. The family moved from Colorado to the ranch on Tie Creek in January 1982. The four years that we lived there were some of the best she had. Mom rode horses, worked cows, ran tractors, and did everything a ranch wife does.

The family moved to Kalispell in 1986. Mom taught elementary in Kila and Salmon Prairie. She also worked as a bookkeeper. After she and Leonard divorced in 1992, Mom moved back to the Ekalaka area and taught in a rural, multi-grade classroom.

Linda moved back to Kalispell several years later. She found a wonderful batch of friends in her TOPS group, and these ladies were very important to her. We would like to thank them for the happiness and support they gave her, especially in the last few months.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John, Leonard, her in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Linda is survived by her daughter Lori Spaid (Jason) of Huson, son Lon (Jessie) of Kalispell, granddaughter Morgann, and grandson Colter. She is also survived by stepgrandchildren Joseth and Joshwa McGee and Tiffany Borland, niece Shannon, and several cousins.

We will love and miss you always, Mom.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 26, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Her ashes will be scattered on the ranch this summer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.