Sherry Lynn Elaine Martindale, 75
Sherry Lynn Elaine Martindale, 75 of Columbia Falls, passed away June 4, 2024. She was born July 31, 1948, in Kalispell to the late Leo John Schulte and Edith Arvellda Schulte (Knutson).
She grew up in Columbia Falls. After graduating from Columbia Falls High School, Sherry paid her own way through two years of business school in Billings. The skills she learned here would carry her throughout the rest of her professional career. She went on to join the United States Marine Corp., which is where she met her husband of 56 years, Bill. She was discharged from service as a Vietnam Veteran. Shortly after the birth of their first son, Randy, Bill and Sherry moved back to Columbia Falls. She worked in the office at Anaconda Aluminum Company before she decided to stay at home and raise her children. When she re-entered the workforce, she worked at Richie Riley and Shook as a bookkeeper. Later, Sherry went to work for the Postal Service as a clerk and carrier throughout the Flathead. She was famous for knowing most folk’s addresses and how to get to most roads in the Flathead. In the last tenure of her career, she worked with Don Barnhart at B&F excavating managing the office. During her free time, she enjoyed a variety of arts and crafts. This included everything from ceramics to embroidering to crocheting and sewing.
She liked keeping busy and would go out of her way to lend a hand. She was mostly known for her deep love and loyalty to her family. Her hobbies included baking, cake decorating, gardening, and spending time with her grandkids. She loved traveling and going for drives with her husband, Bill. They would travel to Arizona for winter in their RV. She was also known for her love of all animals and had many grand dogs. She loved children and would stop to say hello and admire the kids she met at the store. Holidays were an important time in her world.
Sherry participated in the Columbia Falls Volunteer Fire Department as treasurer, the firebug program, and VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She will always be remembered by family and friends for her many home-baked goods, butterscotch pie, overnight buns, and cinnamon rolls.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bill Martindale; children, Randy Martindale (Jana), Chris Martindale (Jeannine), and Lisa Crane (Chris); seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and siblings, Carole Bell and Bill Schulte.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother, Leo (Butch) Schulte; brother-in-law, Kenny Bell; sister, Elaine Schulte; and twin sisters.
A celebration of Sherry's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, at Columbia Mortuary, 1010 Fourth Ave. W., Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Family and friends may begin to visit on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. Entombment to follow at St. Richard Catholic Cemetery, Talbot Rd., Columbia Falls, MT 59912.
To send online condolences, please visit https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/6PqhCwpzyosVA8BcVQGqj?domain=columbiamortuary.com.