Rachel Louise (Hartsoch) Kump, 88

Rachel Louise (Hartsoch) Kump, 88 years of age, passed away May 15, 2021.

Rachel is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, John Kump; and her children, Alice (Zane) Voigt (Halliday, North Dakota) and Jim (Sheri) Kump (Apple Valley, Minnesota), her three grandchildren, Andy (Alaina Buchwald) Kump (Deerfield Beach, Florida), Katie (Bill Skelton) Kump (Melbourne, Australia) and Rachel Voigt (Halliday); her sister, Darlene Donath (Missoula), sisters-in-law, Grace Hartsoch (Polson), Helen Alessandrelli (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Donna (Ron) Puckett (Richmond, Virginia), Francis Goetz (Friendswood, Texas) and Jean Thomas (Friendswood, Texas); brother-in-law, Don King (Jacksonville, North Carolina); and countless other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Rachel was born June 1932 in Ray, North Dakota, the 14th of 17 children to Alfred Hartsoch. Alfred’s first wife, Lottie, blessed him with 11 children. He later married Rachel’s mom, Alice Smalley. Her family left Ray in 1936 and settled in the West Valley of Kalispell. She attended school at Sparks, Baldrock, Prospect Park (now West Valley) and graduated from Flathead County High School. While in high school, she worked at the Cherry Warehouse. After high school she worked at Flathead County Hospital and, while there, decided to become a nurse. She went to nursing school at Columbus in Great Falls and became a registered nurse.

She met John in 1957 and became a Navy wife in 1958. Being in the Navy, they made their homes in San Diego (four different times totaling 20 years), Long Beach, California, San Francisco, Boston, Great Falls, and two years in Yokosuka, Japan. During those travels she worked at San Diego University Hospital and Columbus Hospital in Great Falls. In 1977 John retired from the Navy and they returned to the Kalispell area. Rachel then went on to continue her nursing career at Bigfork Convalescent Center until she retired in 1997. Rachel enjoyed camping and traveling to see her family that is spread across the county. She visited every state except Nebraska. She just loved everyone she met and never had a cross word to say. She was the best mom her children could have hoped for and provided the most loving environment there could be.

There will be a visitation held for Rachel on Thursday, May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. with rosary to be said at 6 p.m. at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. Services will follow Friday, May 21, at 10 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell, with a luncheon to be held at the church following he burial.