Mary Elizabeth Sibley, 88
Mary Elizabeth Sibley, 88, passed away on Aug. 31, 2009, at Brendan House in Kalispell. She was born on Nov. 2, 1920, in Harlem, the daughter of Ross and Myrtle Sellers Smithson.
She grew up on a homestead near Hogeland. In 1937, she moved with her family to a ranch in the Half Moon area near Columbia Falls. She graduated from high school in Columbia Falls and went on to college at Montana State Normal College in Dillon where she earned a teaching certificate. Her first teaching job was in Apgar.
It was here that she met Bill Sibley. After their engagement, Bill served in the Army during World War II and Mary helped the war effort by painting military aircraft at Geiger Airfield in Spokane.
After the war, Mary and Bill were married at the Smithson Ranch near Columbia Falls.Their first home was a cabin Bill built in Apgar.
In 1948 they moved to Cheney, Wash. There they built a home and built and operated Sibley's Cafe together. During this time, Mary went back to college at Eastern Washington State College and received a four-year teaching degree in 1964.
In 1965, the Sibley family returned to the Flathead and settled near Lake Blaine. Mary taught at several rural schools over the next 15 years including Deer Park, Helena Flats, Kila, Marion, and Cayuse Prairie. She was active with the Mountain Brook Ladies Club for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her children and their families when they came to visit.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 1998; brother, Earl, in 2003; granddaughter, Eileen, in 1987; and granddaughter, Tina Rae, in 1968.
She is survived by her daughter, Marylyn Conachen, and husband, Ed, of Spokane; sons, Paul of Kalispell, Cal and wife, Ginni, of Kalispell, and Roger and wife, Larisa, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; sister, Virginia, of Santa Maria, Calif.; as well as seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel. Urn burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery east of Kalispell on Middle Road.
The family suggests that any memorial contribution be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Mary's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Mary's guest book, offer condolences and share memories.