Edna Munter, 89

Edna Munter, 89, passed away on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, at her home in Kalispell.

She was born Edna Ruth McNeil on June 9, 1929, in Wolfpoint, Montana, to Ray and Esther Melander McNeil. Edna was the youngest of four children. The family moved from Wolfpoint to the Flathead Valley during the Depression. She graduated from Flathead County High School and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

On August 29, 1949, she married Dallas Munter in Kalispell, and they resided in the Flathead Valley for the remainder of their lives. Dallas and Edna started the Christian Book Supply while living out on the farm and then moved the store into town when farming lost its appeal. The bookstore was her calling and she invested her time in people, Bibles and books, all the while raising five daughters.

That investment in people grew the family by three and the family embraced a couple of sons and another daughter.

Dallas and Edna were active members of Central Bible Church from its beginning and were the first couple to be married on the property where the church is currently located. They went on short-term mission trips to Africa and Alaska, and they held Sunday School classes in Olney for 10 years. She taught Bible Clubs in her home and was always involved with teaching children God’s word.

They supported Big Sky Bible Camp in its early years with a variety of service projects and also by supplying a steady stream of campers, kitchen helpers and counselors from three generations of children. Many travel adventures filled their retirement years.

Edna’s favorite place was their Echo Lake property which became a gathering place for friends and family and a haven for many.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Dallas, in 2005; her parents, Ray and Esther; her siblings, Gertrude Barnes, Muriel Sperry and Delbert McNeil; and two great-grandsons, Landon Shawback and Kimble Brown.

Edna is survived by her children, Beth and David Brown, Naomi and Tim Stutzman, Lois and Dave Shawback, Mary and Ray Lodien, Martha and Scott Tannehill, Dave and Linda Creighton, Marty and Cindy Cole, and Julie Talarico; her grandchildren, Jeremy Brown, Eleanor Quick, Esther Hughes, Emily Eyestone, Jesse Brown, Landis Stutzman, Tim Stutzman, Ruth Plitt, Casey Stutzman, Dallas Shawback, Logan Shawback, Philip Lodien, Brandon Lodien, Holly Tannehill, Megha Tannehill, Michael Creighton, Jonathan Creighton, Jason Creighton, Nicole Creighton, Jonathan Cole, Joseph Talarico, Amy Talarico and Andrew Talarico; her 48 great-grandchildren; and her beloved nieces and nephews.

We were so blessed to be raised by this very generous, loving and faithful woman.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, at Central Bible Church. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials can be made to the Big Sky Bible Camp Promise Kept Fund for a handicapped-accessible facility, 501 McCaffery Road, Bigfork, Montana 59911; or to the Central Bible Church Missions Fund, 902 First Ave East, Kalispell, Montana 59901.