Kareen Bratt, 82
Kareen Ann Bratt, 82 of Somers, Montana, passed away peacefully on Oct. 11, 2023. She was born on Aug. 2, 1941, in Wallace, Idaho, to her parents, William and Imogene Swensgard (Gallagher). She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, who touched many lives with her kindness, generosity, and faith.
She grew up on the family homestead in Pleasant Valley, north of Fort Benton, Montana. Later she moved to town to attend Fort Benton High School where she developed life-long friendships.
In 1957, she met her future husband, Glee Bratt. After graduating high school, she attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, Washington, before joining Glee at Fort Hood Texas, and was married in Kileen, Texas on Oct. 1, 1959. They were married 64 years.
The couple returned to Montana in 1960, where Kareen worked at the town bank. She started her own H&R Block tax business and raised her children, Lana Broome, Cheri Roberts, and Blake Bratt. The family moved to the Flathead Valley in 1974, on a farm between Somers and Bigfork and helped found the Bigfork Christian Church. Professionally, she led the Council on Aging agency for Flathead County, worked for the Equitable Insurance Company, was a member of the Kalispell Regional Hospital and Flathead High School boards, and ran the family’s farm and storage business.
She was a life-long member of the Bigfork Christian Church where she served as a deacon and long-time board member. Her greatest passion was teaching Sunday school to teens and adults, continuing her life-long learning, and guiding many lives.
Gardening, tending her flowers, photography and following her children and grand-children’s sports activities were Kareen’s passions. After retiring, she authored two books: "My Home’s in Montana," about her childhood on the Montana prairie, and a devotional, "Bloom & Grow," featuring photographs of her flower garden.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Greg, Butch and Denny; sister, Lana; and sister-in-law, Jane.
She is survived by her husband, Glee; children, Lana, Cheri and Blake; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Gail Swensgard; and sister and brother-in-law, Rene and Alan Anderson; sister-in-law, Becky Swensgard; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Kareen will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Bigfork Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to CASA, where Kareen served as a court-appointed advocate for abused and disadvantaged children (flatheadcasa.org).