Winnifred Storli, 93

Winnifred Storli, 93, longtime Kalispell resident died peacefully on Sept. 13, 2023. She was born to Ronald James Stewart and Violet Maude Stewart (Roberts) on Dec. 27, 1929, in Galle, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

She left Sri Lanka in May of 1958, with her children Christopher and Patrica Ann. They set sail from the port of Galle on a Norwegian cargo ship, the Fernsea, which took passengers, travelling through the Suez Canal and arriving in the city of New York. It was on this journey that she and her children met Per Karl Storli, first mate, who would later become Captain Per Storli.

She immigrated to Canada joining her brother Hugh, and his children, Michael and Beverley. For many years she worked in Canada as an educator. In 1963, she and the children moved to England where she obtained a masters degree in special education from the University of Manchester.

Per and Winnifred remained in touch throughout the years from when they first met and in 1965, Captain Per and Winnifred were married in Manchester. In 1967, Per retired from his merchant mariner career, and in 1968 they moved to Kalispell, living with Per's Uncle Sig and Uncle Alf at the family business, the Blue and White Motel. Soon thereafter Per and Winnifred welcomed son Grimm.

Throughout her life, she was a tireless champion for those who sometimes did not have a voice and needed an advocate. She worked in the school system as an educator and along side Per, running their beloved Blue and White Motel. She lived a full and wonderful life and was never happier than in the wide open beautiful Montana countryside.

She is lovingly remembered and survived by her sister, Barbara Webster (Australia) and Diana Thiedeman (England); her son, Christopher Van Twest; daughter, Patricia Ann Van Twest; son, Per Grimm Storli; and stepson, Trond Storli; grandson, Buckthorne Measure; great-grandson, Rhett Measure; and great-granddaughter, Maggie Measure; as well as numerous relatives around the globe.

Memorial services to be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 6, at East Haven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell.