Catherine Agnes Carter Bell “joined her husband” of 60 years after a peaceful passing on May 18, 2016.
Cathie (“Katie” to all her friends at the dialysis center) was born on Nov. 30, 1929, in Casper, Wyoming, to Wilbur and Helen Stapleton Carter. She was a spirited young woman who loved wide open spaces, riding horses, shooting guns and sagebrush. She spent summers at the Taylor Ranch in Wyoming and loved her time there!
After graduating from Natrona County High School in Casper, she attended Casper College and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in theater and education at Denver University. She taught and lived in southern California for a time before returning to Casper.
It was in Casper that she met Jim at a picnic for the Antonias, a Catholic group for young adults. July 16, 1955, they married in Casper and moved to Whitefish, where Jim was born and raised. She was the choir director at St. Charles in Whitefish, and so began her long history of community service.
Jim and Cathie started their family in Whitefish, with Helen in 1958 and Patty in 1960. In September of 1965 they moved to Kalispell, closer to Jim’s employment and so Helen could attend St. Matthew’s Catholic grade school. The day after the family moved in, Sean joined the family and Jennifer followed in 1970. Other family members throughout the years varied, from cats to flying squirrels, chickens to mutts, even a ferret! Cathie loved animals.
Throughout the years she gave her time and talent not only to her family but extensively to the community. In the ’70s she delivered Meals on Wheels and later served with Neighbors in Need. She was the head of Kalispell’s chapter of the March of Dimes. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, the Council of Catholic Women, substitute taught at St. Matthew’s School, was a Big Sister and served on the board of the Big Brothers and Sisters organization. In her spare time she worked for American Automobile Association, Valley Bank as a receptionist, and after years of volunteer involvement with Community Concert, Cathie was hired to increase membership and help bring world culture to small towns across the Northwest. She was recognized many times over the years for her leadership and involvement in the organizations she cared so much about. Compassion and service to others was truly a labor of love for her.
Cathie was a wonderful, fun mom with a great sense of humor. Something heard often was ... “I guess we’ll do Plan B.” She was a great example of service, of hard work, trying new things and getting off the beaten path. She loved travel, and while she never made it off the continent, she saw much of the U.S. If she was driving, there were few, if any, points of interest that were passed by. She loved history, especially Native American history. She loved music, had a wonderful singing voice and gave her children an appreciation for the arts.
Cathie is survived by her four children, Helen-Bell White, Patty Hartford, Sean Bell and Jennifer Marzolf; and seven grandchildren, Trevor and Alex White, Olivia Hartford, Carter and Marlie Bell, Abbi and Quin Marzolf.
The family will be holding a funeral Mass for Jim and Cathie at 3 p.m. July 8 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church.
Contributions can be made in her name to March of Dimes, Big Brothers and Sisters, St. Matthew’s School or Feeding the Flathead.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com .
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.