Michelle Patrice Maginn Smith, 69
Michelle Patrice Maginn Smith died on July 1, 2020, in Kalispell after a very brief and brave battle with cancer.
Michelle was born on Jan. 15, 1951, in San Francisco, the only child of Elsbeth Johanna Weber and Frances Thomas Maginn. As a child she lived in several states and in Europe since her father was in the military and her mother was from Switzerland. Her family eventually planted roots in Iowa and she was raised in the town of Red Oak where she attended high school at Red Oak Community High School with the Class of 1969. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Smith, and they welcomed two children, Michael and Wendy. After Ronnie’s passing, she stayed in Iowa to be near her parents until she met Richard Farrington. Together with his kids, Angela and Robert, and they journeyed west. In 1978, they packed up their family and headed to the wilderness of Montana, first working in and falling in love with Glacier National Park before they found their home of the next 25 years on a mountainside in Kila. Together they built a beautiful log home; they were joined by her parents next door and welcomed two more children, Shannon and Clinton.
They lived a rustic adventure on their land, raising a small farm, tending to animals, riding horses, clearing the land, chopping wood, cooking on a wood stove. Michelle was a strong lady and was good with her hands. She was active in the 4-H club with her kids, sharing her skills in cooking, crafting, sewing, raising pigs and cows, and she developed skills in anything else that was needed. She was always a hard worker, often on night shifts so she wouldn’t miss anything with her kids. She was supportive of all of her family’s interests and she would rarely miss a kid’s basketball game, track meet, dance competition, spelling bee, talent show, class or lesson. She did everything from owning her own small business, to seasonal Christmas wreath making, janitorial work, and at a thrift store. She very much enjoyed her time working at the Kalispell Food Bank and the people she met and served. She was generous and giving, and never stopped working for her family.
Michelle loved a hot cup of black tea and good Stephen King novel. She had beautiful handwriting and was a creative and thoughtful writer. She loved Birkenstocks and Levis. She loved to take her time with a good meal and try new food. She had one tattoo and always dreamed of more. She loved Janis Joplin, both her music and her spirit. She loved cold, rocky ocean cliffs and lighthouses she found along the coasts of Oregon, New York and Ireland. She was accepting of people and welcomed free spirits.
Michelle loved and was proud of all six of her children, her 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. And she was loved back.
Michelle was preceded in death by Ronnie Smith, her parents, and Richard Farrington.
She is survived by her children and their families, Michael Smith, Wendy Smith, Angela Poe, Robert Farrington, Shannon Pederson and Clinton Farrington; grandchildren, Ethan, Skylar, Tristan, Emily, Abigail, Jordan, Bailie, Jaden, Everett, Louise, Koiyah, Kyrah, Emma and Harper; great-grandchild, Sterling; sister-in-law, Peggy Templeton and her family; and lifelong friend, Peggy Embree.
If you wish to honor her memory, please donate to the Kalispell Food Bank.