Carol Grende Carmona, our beautiful wife, sister and friend, passed away March 9, 2009, from pneumonia, brought on as a complication of leukemia. She was surrounded by family and all the love and prayers from her friends from around the world.

Carol was born on Oct. 7, 1955, in Grangeville, Idaho, to Lila and Dale Grende. She was the youngest of five children: Mike, twins Tom and Ted, and Janene.

She was the renowned sculptor of several historical monuments of the Lewis and Clark expedition that stand in many places across the country. Her larger-than-life-size sculpture of Lewis and Clark shaking hands to start their westward journey is placed at the Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Ind., overlooking the Ohio River. The sculpture is mounted on a 16-ton Jefferson limestone base and stands over 14 feet tall overall.

Another monument, "Sacajawea's Arduous Journey," exemplifies the feelings that were stirred within Carol's soul: "I have seen her in my mind's eye, a woman of great strength and perseverance. In her face is great determination. Sacajawea is truly a culmination of my career and represents the perseverance we all must have to proceed on in times of trouble." This sculpture is to be installed at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, during the summer of 2009. Castings will also be placed in Dayton, Wash., and Great Falls.

Her final monument-sized sculpture was the "We Will Never Forget" Veterans Memorial, in Kalispell, which was installed in July 2007. The 9-by-6-foot statue of a kneeling soldier was commissioned by the Flathead County Veterans and the Kalispell Elks Lodge in honor of brave veterans who sacrificed so much.

While her monuments were the culmination of her life's work, Carol produced more than 100 sculptural designs, and was also known for her paintings, scratchboards and other artistic work.

Survivors include husband, David; granddaughter, Leandra; great-granddaughters, Jamie Rose and Skyler Maude; and Carol's sister, Janene; brother, Ted; and nieces and nephews, Tomi, Stacy, Kellie, Jason, Dawn, LaRinda and Jessi, and their families; along with some of the greatest girlfriends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Dale and Lila Grende; and brothers, Mike and Tom.

Memorials can be made to: CA Grende Memorial Fund benefit account, P.O. Box 7130, Kalispell, MT 59904.

A celebration of her life is planned for June 27 at Big Arm. For details, janene@sisna.com.

She'd like to leave you with this thought: "Charge on … Have no fear!"