Lori Zieske, 61

Lori Zieske, 61, was a beautiful, loving, caring wife and wonderful mother. After 18 months her long and difficult battle with esophageal cancer came to an end on July 1, 2023. She was tough and is still very much loved.

She was born on July 20, 1961, to Bonnie and Norman Klindera in Northridge, California, which was three years to the day after her sister Denise. Just don’t bring up how their mother used to dress them the same.

When she was three years old they all moved to Reno, Nevada. Her brightness and love of life was felt all over the Washoe Valley. Everyone loved her the minute they met her. She worked in several casinos, Lakeridge Golf Course, Silver Wings Air, Butler Aviation, and many restaurants.

In 1984 she met Tom Zieske in Reno, and they got married in 1988. They had a son Zachary (Zack) in 1989. Immediately the little guy with big wild hair became the love of her life.

Tom was from Montana, and they would go on vacations all over the state; Great Falls (to visit Tom's family), Yellowstone, Polson, and finally to Glacier National Park, where her whole world changed. She fell in love with Glacier and had to immediately buy the bumper sticker “Glacier is my Happy Place”.

In 1991 they moved from Reno to Denver for Tom’s job and of course she made a hundred friends right away. She was a wonderful stay at home mom and volunteered at Zack's school for years.

In 1998 Tom's job finally had a position open in Kalispell, right next to you know where, Glacier Park, and off they went. Lori and Tom went to Glacier Park, her "Happy Place", many many times over the years. It always brought her so much joy and they made so many memories there.

In Kalispell she got a job as a waitress at Buffalo Hill Terrace. loved her job, her co-workers and the residents. She made many more close friends at work and always had a story to tell when she got home. She was truly happy there.

She loved kitties, flowers, plants, cooking and books. Especially books, she absolutely loved to read. She read to Zack since the day he was born, and he now shares her passion for reading. She was never without a book or more recently her Kindle. There was always one in her hands or in her purse.

During her cancer, when she was resting a lot, she would read a book a day. So when you are relaxing with a good book, please look up at Lori because she will be wondering what you are reading.

She is survived by her husband, Tom; her son, Zack (Caitlin) Zieske in Kalispell; her sister, Denise Klindera of Denver, Colorado; her sister-in-laws, Sue (Randall) Stevenson and Patti Liebig both of Great Falls, along with many nieces and nephews in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Texas, and last but by far not least her new 10 month old baby fluff ball kitten, Max, and right now Mr. Max rules the nest.

She is preceded in death by her mom, Bonnie Butler; step-father, Larry Butler of Reno, Nevada; her father, Norman; her wonderful younger brother, Kevin Butler of Reno, Nevada; and her cats, Pumpkin, Oreo, and Jackson who are surely waiting for her with open arms and paws.

She was always there for all of us and will be missed so very very much. Life will seem a little less bright without her smile, her laughter, and her ever ready hugs.

Instead of flowers, she has a garden full, please send any donations to an esophageal cancer research program or your local animal rescue in Lori’s name.

Instead of a formal service, an informal celebration of life will be held at Buffalo Hill Terrace on July 29, from 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.