Leslie Walker died peacefully on Dec. 27, 2015. She was a brilliant, wise, curious, sensitive and loving woman who lived life to the fullest.
She was born in York, Nebraska, on Sept. 8, 1924, the youngest of three daughters. Her parents were Paul Walker and Marie (Kuhn) Walker. In her early years, life was difficult, and she was raised in part by her maternal grandparents on a Kansas “dirt farm” while her single mother worked full time.
She later graduated from Colorado Women’s College in Denver with a two-year degree. Rather than accept a scholarship to a university, Leslie married an Army officer, and together they raised two sons and a daughter. This marriage ended in divorce after 25 years. At age 50, once the children were raised, Leslie resumed her studies, attending the University of California at Irvine, and in 1976 received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
After two years of private practice, Leslie embarked on a two-year solo sabbatical, traveling through the Middle East and Far East to study Eastern philosophy, mythology and religion. These travels took her to Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Italy (to be present for the naming of the Pope). She continued her travels to spend 15 months at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in India, then trekking and studying Buddhism in Nepal and Japan.
Upon her return to the U.S., she began studying Jungian psychology, and over the next 23 years became licensed and practiced as a Jungian psychologist in five Western states. In 1993 she moved to Kalispell, where she also established a practice until her retirement in 2003. She enjoyed a full and rich retirement life with Dr. James Armstrong Sr., and together they enjoyed many aspects of outdoor life — camping, hiking, hunting; as well as symphonies, plays and cultural events in the Flathead Valley.
Leslie described herself as: “a psychologist and a woman who believes in a united world where citizens accept our equality along with all the differences among human beings on this planet, with no need of wars or terrorism.” She continued this thought with a quote from Sri Aurobindo: “The difficult can be done right away; the impossible takes a little longer. “
Leslie is survived by her sons, Jerry Larsen and his wife Sharon of Santa Cruz, California, and Tom Larsen of Altadena, California; four grandchildren; Signe Morgan, Heather, Hillary and Nathaniel; great-grandchildren, Xavier and Darby; and great-great-grandchildren, Delana and Bella.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Ingrid Carter, formerly of Indian River, Michigan.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Renaissance Senior Care, who treated Leslie with kindness in her final years.
According to her wishes, cremation has taken place and at this time there are no services planned.
Condolences may be directed to www.buffalohillfh.com