Carol Louise Bjork, 82

Carol Bjork, 82, died Nov. 29, 2023, of natural causes, including heart disease and COPD, at the Bee Hive Home in Kalispell.

Carol was born on July 20, 1941, at her grandparents' house north of Galata, Montana, to Harvey and Isabel Fenger who owned a wheat farm in that area.

She moved with her family to Bigfork and attended schools there, starting as a fourth grader.

She married Jack Bjork on Nov. 24, 1957. They both worked on farms in eastern Montana until returning to the Flathead and making their home on the Bjork family farm at Holt, where they started their family. Their daughter, Jackie Lynn, arrived on Feb. 29, 1960, and their son, Ricky Lane, made his entrance on Dec. 14, 1961.

Carol and Jack worked the farm, milking cows, raising sheep and pig, and hay. They also worked at other jobs at that time. They purchased and operated several school buses for the Bigfork School District. Carol sold all but one of the buses after Jack died in 1989. 

She moved to the Echo Lake area in 1992 and retired in June 2012 after 30 eventful years of driving her school bus and enjoying all her, "kids." She got to see many of her students grow up, have families and send their children to school on Carol's bus. That pleased her a lot.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Isabel; her husband, Jack; her son, Rick; and her brother, Delmar and wife Marlene.

She is survived by her daughter, Jackie; her sister, Merilee (Lauren) McClurg; and several terrific nieces and nephews.

A small family memorial service will be held soon at a time and place to be announced.