Barbara Anne Schlabs, 80

Our dearest wife, mother, and friend left this world to be with her heavenly Father on Feb. 24, 2021, after a long battle with dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Barbara was born on Jan. 12, 1941, in Butte to parents Merlin and Mabel Young. The family moved to the Kalispell area in 1951, where Barbara attended elementary school and Flathead High School. Barbara graduated from FHS in 1959. This is where she met her life-long spouse, Gordon. The couple married on Aug. 26, 1960, and moved to the Bozeman area where Gordon attended Montana State University. Their first child, Jeffrey was born in 1960 in Bozeman. Barbara cared for Jeffrey and worked part-time while Gordon attended MSU and played football. The family moved to Laurel after Gordon’s graduation. Later Barbara gave birth to her daughter Julie while living in Laurel and youngest son, Jay in Billings.

The couple resided in several Montana communities to include Bozeman, Laurel, Livingston, Helena, and Billings. While in Billings, she enjoyed her work in the schools as a librarian aide and working with special needs children. In 1999, the couple returned to the Flathead Valley and made their retirement in Lakeside where Barbara designed her lifelong dream home. Barbara was active in the Red Hat Society, Lakeside Community Club and Lakeside Chapel Community Church. Barbara was fond of the sunshine and enjoyed more than 10 years each winter traveling to Arizona. She also treasured her travels and cruises together with her husband.

Barbara was active with her grandchildren and other activities such as craft projects, painting, and designing St. Nicks for holiday bazaars. Barbara’s grandchildren still recall fond memories of painting ladybug rocks and visiting grandma at the lake during holidays and summers. She instilled in them how wonderful it is to live in the state of Montana. Barbara also enjoyed her FHS 1950s class reunions and remained close with several of her former classmates.

Barbara was a very devout Christian and donated her support to Youth with a Mission traveling to Mexico with YWAM. Although Barbara’s battle with Parkinson’s kept her homebound during her final years, she never lost her faith in God, family, friends, and community. Barbara was a kind and caring person and in her home for all to see is a sign referencing 1 Corinthians 13:13, which states, “And now these three remain, Faith, Hope, and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.” Barbara was with her family when she passed. Her family would like to thank all of her friends and neighbors for their support during this difficult time, including staff at Frontier Hospice Care and Loyal Care of Kalispell. Barbara lived a wonderful life and leaves this world not in sadness, but in the joy that she brought to those who knew and loved her.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents and sisters Beverly and Marilyn.

She is survived by her husband Gordon, daughter Julie and husband Steve Gregoryk, son Jeff, son Jay and his wife Tanya; her six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life is currently scheduled for Aug. 21, 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family requests desired donations be made to Lakeside Chapel Community Church or Frontier Hospice Care.