Lyla Margaret Kammerdiener, 93

Lyla was born Feb. 8, 1925, and passed away May 21, 2018, at age 93.

Lyla was born in Tenino, Washington, to Stuart and Alice Windiate, the middle of eight girls. Her father was a cowboy and traveled a lot breaking horses and working ranches all over the Northwest. The family moved to Kalispell in 1935 and Lyla and her sisters attended Kalispell schools.

Lyla married Fritz Kammerdiener on her 16th birthday in 1941 and had two children, Bonnie and Fred Jr. They also fostered other children including Jimmy and Barry Youso, Flora Sorely and her brothers John and George DeVera. In 1942 when the war broke out, Lyla followed her husband to Vancouver, Washington, to work as a welder in the shipyards and then returned to Kalispell to raise their family.

Lyla worked many jobs in Kalispell, including county jail cook for five years and the family Spudnut Bakery on Main Street. When Fred Jr. went into the Navy he met Julian Almonte Jr. from the Philippines whom Fred and Lyla adopted. Julian went on to a distinguished Naval career.

Lyla was very active in her church and always very spiritual. She loved sewing, knitting and all arts and crafts. She made many things for her family and friends.

Lyla is survived by her daughter Bonnie Ward and husband Steve; grandsons Arthur Tveit and wife Carrie, John Tveit and wife Tamra, granddaughter Rene Roberts; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; also a very large extended family.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at Cornerstone Community Church, with burial at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family. Please visit www.jgfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for the family.