Mary A. Burlingham

Mary A. Burlingham, 94, a long time Eureka resident, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell from natural causes.

She was born Sept., 11, 1917, on Iowa Flats Rd in Eureka to William A. and Burnetta Mae (Brady) Rhodes.  She was the fifth of 10 children.  She grew up and attended school in Eureka.

Mary married Ethan Burlingham on Aug. 21, 1937.  Together they had eight children.  They lived in Libby and the Yaak for a short time, but most of their years were spent in the Eureka area.

When all the kids were home she would bake 16 loaves of bread every other day, and lots of cookies.  At one time she cooked for the J. Neils saw crew.

Mary enjoyed knitting and loved spending time with her family.

Her husband Ethan and four children, Alvin, Beaty Gilham, Nettie VanOrden and Ethan Jr., preceded her in death.

Survivors include her four children: Mary Louise VanLeishout and husband Clarence of Eureka; Margie Johnson of Pacific Beach, Wash.; Martha Houchin of Eureka; and Florence Pound of Kalispell; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services are Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, at 4 p.m. at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka.  Visitation is from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka.

Local arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka.