Laura Kochis, 67
Our sweet and loving Laura Kochis passed away on the morning of March 25, 2020, as a result of complications of a stroke (during surgery for an aneurysm).
Laura was born Jan. 14, 1953, in Norfolk, Virginia, the child of a Navy family. Her mother was Yolanda Kochis and father was Peter Kochis, who was a commander in the Navy. She was the oldest girl in a family of eight children. She had three sisters and four brothers.
Her childhood was that of a military family living in Norfolk, Hawaii and San Diego. She graduated from Bishop Amat Memorial High School, a Catholic school in La Puente, California. Upon graduation, Laura worked locally in various jobs including waitress work at Marie Callender’s restaurant and she worked in the fashion industry in textiles in Los Angeles with Wamsutta Company as she attended college. She attended Long Beach State College and studied accounting for three and a half years. She left California in her senior year at Long Beach State to take a job in accounting at the Grand Canyon National Park with the Fred Harvey Hotel Company. She moved to Montana by accepting an administrative position with the Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier. She loved Montana and moved to Whitefish to ski and work on Big Mountain. She worked as a bartender, waitress, bookkeeper and office administrator at various businesses in the valley. As an original member of the infamous Working Women of Whitefish, Laura loved to celebrate the Winter Carnival, parade and dance in the street.
Laura was funny and always had a joke to tell, but she was sharp and could dish it out as well as take it. She met her future husband, geologist Rod Samdahl, while working as a cocktail waitress at the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell. After a stimulating debate over the pros and cons of drilling for oil, Rod musingly asked if she had driven to work in a car full of gasoline. They bantered back and forth for an hour about her oil-based nylon stockings and plastic hair brush but she stood up for the air, water and all things furry and cute. She was secretly impressed with him and said she didn’t date guys from the bar, but agreed to see him again anyway. Four years later they were married in Whitefish in 1987 at St. Charles Catholic Church. Rod’s priest, Father Jack Darragh, came to co-celebrate the wedding with Laura’s priest, Father Hunthausen. Two priests at one wedding! Maybe that’s why they lasted together so long. Soon after, they moved to Helena where she worked for the “On Broadway” restaurant and as an office manager for Myre Advertising, an art and billboard company with roadside billboards across the central part of the state. She and Rod joined the Helena Cathedral Parish and flourished spiritually there before returning to Whitefish.
Laura’s marriage of 33 years to Rod was the stuff of love stories. They laughed, rode long distances on bicycles, skied, boated and backpacked through the West. In 1989 they had their son Michael in Helena. In 1993 they moved back to Whitefish where they built their home, and she lived there with her husband until her passing. In Whitefish she immersed herself in the local culture and community as an undying volunteer for a variety of organizations including youth soccer, Cross Currents Christian School, she organized and ran the Whitefish Art Festival for several years, served as the Boy Scout Troop 17 popcorn colonel, was a board member with Sparrow’s Nest and volunteered many hours at the North Valley Food Bank. Laura loved Michael and always supported him making food for the football team, fundraising for his activities, and feeding his ravenous friends at school lunchtime. In spite of the fact that she was working full-time, she came home at lunchtime to be there for him.
Laura was a woman of faith and active in the Catholic Church always helping out with meals, rummage sales, Shepherd’s Hand, and wherever there was a need. Laura would always take on the most unpleasant jobs with a joyous heart. She was unbelievably generous, always overtipped, and gave many of her belongings to others in need. She shared everything with anyone who asked. Her life was marked by her unparalleled generosity and love for her husband and son.
Laura was a consummate planner. The high bar she set for her son’s incredible rehearsal dinner and wedding to Makayla Darrow in Bigfork was preceded by organizing a wonderful surprise Silver Wedding Anniversary for her parents in California. She always put family first and any time she had for vacations was spent visiting the family in California. She loved to bring raw huckleberries to California and bake delicious pies for the family. She had a huge heart. She will be missed but not forgotten.
Laura is preceded in death by her mother, father and brother Peter.
She is survived by her loving husband Rod Samdahl; son Michael Samdahl and his wife Makayla; her brothers John Kochis (wife Denise), Philip Kochis (wife Patsy), Robert Kochis; sisters Mary Mohr (husband Richard), Lillian Baltes (husband Bob), Rita Flagler (husband Robert); and dozens of nieces and nephews whom Laura knew well and loved dearly.
Funeral services will proceed through the current pandemic at St. Richard Catholic Church in Columbia Falls with immediate family only. Interment will follow immediately at the Catholic Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A celebration of life will be held later this summer.
In lieu of flowers, Laura would want memorials sent in her name to Sparrow’s Nest NW MT, in care of Sister Judy Lund, 186 Rosewood Drive #B, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family. Please visit www.columbiamortuary.com to send notes of condolences to the family.