Marie Kay Friede, 67

Marie Kay Friede, 67, passed away on the morning of May 20, 2021, at the Bee Hive care center in Columbia Falls.

Marie was born on March 5, 1954, to Mary Matovick in Bismark, North Dakota. Her family at the time lived in Steel, North Dakota. Marie was later adopted by Kenny Nieskens.

She moved around as a child and attended many different schools in Eastern Montana and the western part of North Dakota. She graduated from the high school in Glasgow in 1973. She soon married John Friede, and together they adopted their only son, Travis Friede. They made their home in the Flathead Valley. John passed away in 1993. Marie had a variety of interesting jobs to include a 911 dispatcher in Columbia Falls, the driver’s license department and her most recent position at the county treasurer for the courthouse in Florence, Arizona.

Marie found a second chance at love in Fred Timlick. For nearly 28 years together they made their home a warm and comfortable place for family and friends to gather. They shared many of the same interests, enjoyed traveling and splitting their time between Arizona, Condon and their home on Helena Flats. They enjoyed a memorable vacation together touring Alaska in 2004. Marie’s home was where her crafts and pig collections were. She was an avid quilter, baker, seamstress and excellent cook. She made everything from curtains, to doll dresses, bead work and even eclectic rugs from recycled shopping bags. Her recipes were unmatched and will be shared at family gatherings for years to come. She loved sharing her love of cooking with her granddaughter Ella. She even made them matching aprons. You could hear Marie’s laugh from a mile away. It was robust and joyful. She loved a good joke, a funny story and for many years a ride with Fred on the Harley. She loved her blue Corvette, her dog Allie, and hauling her lawn chair to her grandkids’ games. She created special sleepovers to include Scooby Doo with Brooks and tourist days around the Flathead when Henry and Calvin came to visit.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Kenny, her sister Kari, and her first husband John.

She is survived by her life partner and best friend Fred Timlick, her son Travis of Libby, her brother Duke Nieskens of Laurel, sister Lori Scofield of Nebraska, step-children Michelle Hammer (Val) and Ryan Timlick (Kristin), and her grandchildren, Henry and Calvin Hammer and Ella and Brooks Timlick, and many extended family and friends.

Marie had a gentle calm about her and a giant heart. She was close to her siblings and enjoyed the simple things, like gatherings with friends, a good campfire or a ride in the desert. She was a very generous person and had impeccable organizational skills. She will be missed by those she has left behind, but never forgotten. Gramma Rie’s recipes will continue to be passed on.

Please join the family for a memorial service at Easthaven Baptist Church, Kalispell on Friday, June 11, at 11 a.m. There will be a lunch reception following.

Austin Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for Marie’s family.