Glacier Monuments crafts personalized memorials

“Honoring your legacy,” is displayed on the front page of Glacier Monument’s website. According to new owners Kim Morisaki and Kalie Adoretti, that is what the business is all about.  

Glacier Monuments, previously known as Glacier Monuments and Signs, has been servicing the valley since the 1980s. The shop was formally owned by Carole Bealer and her family.  

Producing a blend of engraved stone and granite for headstones, decor, benches and more, the work is often a tribute to something or someone.  

“When we hear the stories about family members and friends, we try to give the memorial a glimpse of their personality,” Adoretti said.  

Adoretti and Morisaki, sisters born and raised in Kalispell, co-own what they now call Glacier Monuments with their husbands. They recently joined the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce.  

Owning a business like this was never on their radar, Morisaki said, until they themselves had to find a headstone when their mother died in February of 2021. 

“When our mom passed away, we had to do a headstone. It was never a business we thought we’d get into, but when we went through that process, we just kind of got to talking and realized that there weren't a lot of options in Montana for purchasing a headstone,” Adoretti said.  

Adoretti has a background in social work, bringing skills to the personal relations aspect of the business. Morisaki helps lead using her background in business. Adoretti’s husband, Nate, a stone mason, and Morisaki’s husband, Yuji, a contractor, help on the craftsmen side.  

“As a team, we realized we could pull this off,” Morisaki said.  

In the spring of 2023, Bealer expressed interest in selling the business and the following year she helped train Morisaki and Adoretti, getting them familiar with the ins and outs of the business. They met with similar businesses in Great Falls and Missoula to get the lay of the land. 

As of March of 2024, the shop opened under new ownership and has since continued to service the Flathead Valley community and beyond.  

The transition went smoothly, Morisaki said, as all four staff members stayed. The staff made the purchase worth it, she said.  

Through finding new granite suppliers across the nation and world, they have been able to revamp their prices, allowing options for a wide range of budget brackets. They’ve gotten more into creating signs and markers, such as at the new Poynter Building on 5th Ave in Kalispell, and are excited to expand into more niches with time.  

Over the course of almost 10 months, Glacier Monuments has helped Flathead Valley residents, people from Canada and residents from surrounding states create memorials and decorations. They even recently had someone come in to update and replace an old family member’s headstone that was made in the 1800s.  

“It really just depends what people need,” Morisaki said. “We want to help make that happen for people.” 

From handcrafted mountain landscapes to engraving photos and artwork by local artists, there are a ton of options for clients. The majority of what they create are headstones, but they also build neighborhood monuments, address markers, business signs and customized countertops. 

Glacier Monuments is located at 248 2nd Ave. W in Kalispell. The business is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are also available evenings and weekends.  Call 257-9371 or visit glaciermonuments.com. 

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.