Theresa Jambor Williams, 45
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 20 years, 1 month AGO
Theresa Jambor Williams, 45, died Sunday morning, Dec. 12, 2004, from
head injuries suffered in an automobile accident Saturday evening.
Theresa was born May 19, 1959, in Pasco, Wash., the fourth child of Anne
and Steven Jambor. In 1969, the family moved to the Flathead Valley,
eventually residing in Kalispell. She attended St. Matthew's School and
graduated from Flathead High School in 1977.
During this period she established life-long friends and interests in
music and art. Upon graduation she worked at Budget Tapes & Records.
In 1982 she dated Kenneth L. Williams Jr. In 1984, they were married.
While in Seattle, she attended North Seattle Community College. In the fall
of 1985, Theresa and Ken returned to the Flathead Valley, residing in
Whitefish.
The couple became a family in 1988, with the arrival of their first
child, Koben Lane Williams. Upon the birth of her daughter, Lenna, in 1990,
she invested her energies raising her growing family. Her children are her
greatest source of pride and accomplishment. Her home is another source of
pride. During this period Theresa was a motivating force within her family.
She encouraged her husbands involvement with the community. She began a
personal involvement with Whitefish, her community through her friends, The
Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, through both Vestry and numerous guilds, The
Working Women of Whitefish, The North Valley Hospital Foundation, and her
Errant Ladies' Book Review & Birthday Club.
Based on the childrens passions and activities, her influence and
involvement spread to include the Whitefish PTA, Whitefish Youth Soccer
Program, Whitefish Dance and Acrobatics troupe, and the Flathead Force
soccer program. Theresa was an avid fan of Bulldog soccer, football and
supported the high school chorus. Many young people in our community found
themselves an expanded part of her extended family.
Over the past three years, Theresa developed a new career with the
Glacier Fund, part of the National Park Foundation. She loved Glacier
National Park and in this manner, was allowed to build the Parks programs,
dealing with fund-raising, program management, and monitoring. Her special
gifts included a congenial disposition and an ability to work with people.
In the summer of 2004, she hosted the First Ladys visit to the park, and
participated in the Superintendents Hike. In her role, she was blessed with
a board who recognized and rewarded her abilities, expanding her roles,
opportunities and programs. She possessed an enthusiasm for her work, and
the expanded camaraderie found with her friends in Glacier National Park.
Over the past six years, Theresa found herself traveling with family;
eventually visiting London, Paris, the Greek Isles, Turkey, Italy and
central China. These travels allowed her to closely bond with Lenna, Koben,
Drew and Helen Williams-Gebhart. Of particular joy were excursions north
with familiar friends to the hot springs dotting the western front of the
Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Theresa leaves behind her family, Ken, Koben and Lenna Williams, and
Carl Dieterich, her AFS son; mother, Anne Jambor; brothers, Steve and
Phillip; sister, Annette Trethewey; nieces, Drew Williams and Brooke Jambor;
nephews, Douglas Jambor, Dillon and Lucas Trethewey; and parental in-laws,
Kenneth L. and Mary Williams, and Helen J. and Dr. Tom Gebhardt. Further,
she is survived by her close friends and her expanded Flathead Valley
community.
A viewing shall occur at Austin Funeral Home, Friday, Dec. 17, from 1
through 8 p.m. Services for Theresa shall occur this Saturday at 2 p.m. at
Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Whitefish, followed by interment at the
C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. Following shall be a celebration
of her life and reception at the OShaughnessy Center in Whitefish later
that afternoon, from 4 p.m. on. Due to the anticipated response, the family
is encouraging as many as possible to attend the latter reception, bringing
photographs to share. Due to her involvement with Glacier National Park, a
celebration of her life shall also occur at park headquarters, with the date
and time to be announced.