Helen M. Manion, 92

Helen M. Manion, sharp and witty until the very end, passed away peacefully at the age 92 in Kalispell.

Helen, a cancer survivor, attributed her longevity to a diet filled with home cooked food and many years of love and care for a pup named Pooh Bear.

Helen was born Nov.12, 1928, in Anaconda and was the only child of Jeff and Kay Wilcocks, of Victor and Missoula. She grew up in both Anaconda and Spokane, but eventually moved to Missoula where she attended Missoula County High School (Hellgate) and the University of Montana. Following school, Helen worked in the billing department at the Missoulian newspaper, during which time she met Albert “Barry” Braunberger, a local optometrist. The two were later married and started their family in Kalispell, in an upstairs apartment across the street from the Conrad Mansion. Barry opened an optometry practice above Braunberger Jewelry, his father’s store on Main Street, later moving his practice into the Buttrey Building.

Helen and Barry raised six children in Kalispell. You could regularly find the two of them at local track meets or ski events, keeping time or cheering on one of their kids. Helen served as Big Mountain race secretary for several years, coordinating registrations, posting times and recording results, and helping host skiers from across the Northern Division ski region. When she wasn’t assisting the ski team, you could find her out on the slopes with family and friends.

After Dr. Braunberger’s death in 1971, Helen married Gerald M. “Bud” Manion of River Falls, Wisconsin, an owner of Manion Motors of Kalispell. Bud quickly became part of the family, helping to raise Helen’s youngest children.

Living across from Buffalo Hill Golf Course in Kalispell and with a home in Sun City West, Arizona, Helen had easy access to golf, a pastime she and Bud happily shared together. Each year, they travelled to the Montana State Senior golf tournament, an event they looked forward to with anticipation. However, Helen wasn’t only an avid fan of golf, she was a huge sports enthusiast, particularly of basketball. Helen spent countless hours watching and cheering on her favorite teams, including the University of Montana Grizzlies, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz.

While watching games or riding in the car, she kept her hands busy with knitting needles, crafting intricate and detailed sweaters, ski hats and afghans. She also enjoyed the quiet solitude of gardening; her backyard filled with meticulously manicured floral gardens, holding some of the biggest and best floral blossoms in the area, in her early years submitting her favorites for competition at the Flathead County Fair.

Helen treasured visiting with friends and spending time at her summer home on Flathead Lake, often hosting yearly Fourth of July celebrations attended by her large and extended family.

Helen is survived by her six children, Bill (Mary) Braunberger, of Liberty Lake, Washington, Jeff (Kathy) Braunberger, Brian (Donna) Braunberger, and Mary Kay (Fred) Wallner of Kalispell, Gigi (Richard) Moy of Helena, and Ema Lou Braunberger (Jim) Caldwell of Whitefish. She had 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, as well as numerous friends living in Kalispell and around the region. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.