Blanche Eileen Brist, 84, passed away Friday, Dec. 22, 2006 in her daughter's home in Tacoma, Wash.

Blanche was born April 18, 1922, in the family farmhouse near Verwood, Saskatchewan, to Sanford and Winifred Leibrand. Sandy broke sod in Saskatchewan with oxen, and later with horses near Scobey, during the Depression. The Leibrand family moved to the Flathead Valley in 1937.

Blanche married Freeman Brist on June 5, 1941. They had 61 years together before Freeman passed away April 18, 2002. They spent most of their years together on the family ranch near Kalispell, where they raised their five children. After retirement, they had seven years together in Sun City, Ariz. Shortly after Freeman's death, Blanche relocated to the Renaissance Retirement Home in Tacoma, Wash., to be near her daughter, Joyce.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She enjoyed being a homemaker in every respect. Her favorite pastime was writing to her many friends all over the world. She also enjoyed knitting and making quilts and afghans, especially for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Prior to her husband's death, they enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world enjoying fellowship with God's people. She made scrapbook journals of their travels and other significant events.

In addition to her husband, Blanche was preceded in death by sisters, Margaret and Muriel; brother, George; and granddaughter, Carie Holladay.

She is survived by two sons, Lyle and Mary Brist of Happy's Inn, and Glen and Tanya Brist of Ashley Lake; three daughters, Joyce and Leonard Wright of Tacoma, Julia Brist of Great Falls, and Jeanne and Cedric Coolahan of Broadus; brothers, Bob Leibrand of Washington, and Albert Leibrand of Oregon; sisters, Ruth Harris of Wolf Point, and Eileen Reed of Oregon; 10 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at the Expo Center in Kalispell. Guests are invited to remain for a potluck immediately after services. Burial will follow at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday at Johnson Mortuary.