Mildred Hardie Emerson, 84, passed away July 10, 2009. She was born in the first hospital in Kalispell to Ivy Green Hardie and Richard Hardie on Sept. 22, 1924.

She attended Cornelius Hedges School for six years and Central Junior High School for two years. She graduated from Flathead County High School in 1942 with honors, then attended Eastern Washington College at Cheney and graduated in 1946 with honors, having been inducted into "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities."

She taught at Linderman in Kalispell for five years and then in the Columbia Falls school system for 12 years.

In 1963 she married Robert E. Emerson, whose two daughters, both of whom were her students, joined her own two sons to make a happy family.

She enjoyed outdoor sports, especially hiking and swimming in Glacier Park, skating at Woodland Park, and skiing on Big Mountain. For many years she taught swimming and acted as lifeguard at Brookhouser Pool and Methodist Camp on Flathead Lake.

In 1966 she retired from teaching, and she and Bob bought 30 acres of timber at the foot of Columbia Mountain and built their mountain house. She spent the last 27 winters at their place on the beach near Santa Barbara, Calif., and died after a long illness at her beloved mountain house, surrounded by her loving family.

She was preceded in death by her son, Dick; her parents; and a special aunt, Flossie Green.

She is survived by her husband, Bob; son, Jim, and wife, Barbara, of Helena; Judy and David Aldrich of Columbia Falls; Claudia Kettrick of Vancouver Wash.; and her special friend, Marilyn Brady, of Kalispell; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and at her request, there will be no public services.

Friends are encouraged to visit the Web site at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.