Barbara Jean Allison, 68

Barbara Jean Allison, 68, passed away May 7, 2019, from injuries received in a vehicle collision that occurred on Highway 2 between Kalispell and Columbia Falls. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Barbara Jean (Murray) Allison was born June 5, 1950, in La Junta, Colorado, and was raised with her sisters in Security, Colorado. She graduated from Widefield High School and attended Otero Junior College in La Junta. Barbara married Tom Dietz of Beach, North Dakota, and had her sons Brian and Shane. That marriage ended in 1987. She met Bruce Allison in 1990 and married him in 1996. She held numerous jobs, including selling Tiara, bartending and bookkeeping, but her career was in real estate and it spanned 40 years. She was involved in the real estate industry in three states, with licenses in Montana, Arizona and Colorado, culminating with her ownership of Custom Realty in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She had recently retired from real estate and moved back to Montana and the Flathead Valley with her husband, the place they both considered their lifelong home.

Barbara loved spending time with her friends and family, especially her children and grandchildren. She had a special relationship with her sister Karla, who had moved with her to Columbia Falls. She enjoyed spending time outdoors, boating, fishing, reading and gardening. She was an excellent cook and baker. She loved taking over the kitchen for the holidays to make goodies for family and friends. She was deeply loved by her family and friends and will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Bette Murray.

She is survived by her husband Bruce Allison of Columbia Falls, and children, Brian Dietz of Surprise, Arizona, Shane Dietz of Portland, Jacob Allison of Boulder City, Nevada, and Colleen Allison of La Junta. She is also survived by three sisters and their families, Sandra Rivera of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Debbie Gifford of Kalispell, Karla Murray of Columbia Falls, and additional extended family in Montana, Colorado, and elsewhere.

A memorial service will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Camp on Flathead Lake (East Shore just south of Bigfork) at 10 a.m. on June 21.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Columbia Falls Senior Center, the Wounded Warrior Project, or a charity of your choice in her remembrance.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.buffalohillfh.com to leave a note of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.