Jeri Lea Lincoln

“You belong among the wildflowers, you belong on a boat out at sea, sail away, kill off the hours, you belong somewhere you feel free.” — Tom Petty

Jeri Lea Lincoln passed away May 24, 2022, at her home in Kalispell. She was born in Missoula and was a proud fourth generation Montanan. She is survived by her son Adam Lincoln, grandchildren Dominic Valk, Cora Lincoln and Kaden Lincoln, mother Shirley Lincoln and sisters Candie and Denise Lincoln.

Throughout her working days Jeri was the first female rafting guide on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, she was a respiratory therapist and finally a physical therapist employed at Logan Healthcare. She was a hard core liberal who loved white wine and pisco sours, anything outdoors or trave related, good coffee and every dog she ever met. Most of all, she loved her son and three grandchildren.

Jeri was 100 pounds of pure Montana badass. She was fearless, whether putting an addition on her home by herself, rowing through class 4 white water, riding a camel in the Indian desert or wrestling a patient three times her size who just had hip surgery. I know many people have done similar things in our action-packed Flathead Valley. It wasn’t so much what Jeri did, but how she did them; She always carried herself with great kindness, a sense of adventure and respect for the people, animals and environment and an uncanny ability to stay calm in the face of danger. Her time on earth fell short, but while she was here she took a huge bite out of life and lived well. She is missed.

When rafting down the Middle Fork, just after the Narrows you’ll see a paddle on river left on a cliff. This paddle was put up over 30 years ago in honor of George Mumalo, her truest love. Wrapped around this will be a scarf Jeri was given in India. Our hope is that when you see this scarf it will inspire you to live life just a little more fully, with more grace and compassion in honor of Jeri and all the special women you know.