Brenda Leigh Guild, 59
Brenda Leigh Guild was born in Missoula on July 19, 1961. At 59, she passed away at her home after a courageous battle with cancer on April 2, 2021. She fought that war a total of 16 years!
Brenda was educated in various cities during her school years. She was educated at Willard Elementary, Missoula; Bigfork Elementary, Bigfork; Orchard Elementary, Lewiston; Sacajawea Junior High, Lewiston; Yelm High School, Yelm, Washington; Bigfork High School, Bigfork; and graduated in 1979. In 1988 Brenda attended Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, (in business management with a 3.8 GPA — only six credits short from graduating — because of her fear of public speaking. Just could not do that class!). Brenda was very proud of that accomplishment.
Brenda was a successful landscape maintenance contractor in Bigfork. She proudly started her own business, Montana Gardener, Inc. in 1999, serving businesses and residential properties in the greater Flathead Valley. Brenda worked many jobs throughout her career that finally led her to owning her business, including many nurseries and greenhouses — Alpine Nursery, Mo’s Greenhouse, In Bloom Nursery, Lawyer Nursery, Champion Nursery, Plant Land and Doepker Landscaping. She was also self-employed as a personal gardener, pinecone harvester and pine pitch harvester, in addition to working with George at Building Stone Quarrie and Sales.
In 1979, she married Nelson Guild. Her first daughter, Brandi Ann Guild, was born from that union, 1980. Brenda and Nelson later divorced.
In 1988, she met her partner for life, George Chaussee. They went on many adventures and were partners until the very end. In 1990, they had another girl, Kayla Leigh “Bug” Chaussee.
Brenda went on many adventures all over the country with family, friends, etc., such as horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, snorkeling, fishing, boating and floating. She loved to play racquetball, fly kites, go to the beach (Flathead Lake, Hawaii and California). She was very creative and artsy — she always had a project going!
Brenda’s personality was one of a kind! She had such a loving, caring, compassionate, and giving heart. And, boy, what a quick wit, sense of humor, and a contagious laugh. Her beautiful, fun and fighting spirit got her and many others through some very difficult times. She is missed by many — to the moon and back.
Brenda was preceded in death by her grandparents, Francis and Bessie Culbert; grandparents, Evelyce and Edward Larson; grandfather, Celgia Leland “Blackie” Hyslop; and brother, James Fitzgerald.
She is survived by her spouse, George Chaussee; her daughters, Brandi Guild and Kayla Chaussee; her stepdaughter, Sari and husband Tom Tompkins; her parents, Ken and Mary Fitzgerald and Leland Hyslop; her sisters, Barbara and Jeff Ebel, Debbie Prososki and Jeff Beckstrom, Pamela and Kent Lorash, Terri and Scott Lewis, Colleen and James Volk; her brother, Bill Fitzgerald; her beautiful grandchildren, Brooke Marie Wilson, Casey Ray Wilson, TC Trottier, Maddie Tompkins. She is, also, survived by numerous nieces and nephews, who she loved so dearly; her special friends who were there until they end Shari C, Sherri D, Helen, Patti, Paula, Nona and so many others.
Brenda’s celebration of life will be held at the pavilion at Wayfarer’s Park in Bigfork on July 23 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. To sign Brenda’s guestbook, leave condolences, or plant a tree in memory of Brenda, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com
