Mary Lou (Gilbertson) Basham, 91, of Thompson Falls, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Mary Lou was born to parents Mary Elizabeth (Bondurant) Gilbertson and George Clarence Gilbertson on March 12, 1929, in the family’s three-room cabin on a homestead outside of Kalispell. Mary Lou was the second child born, following a sister, Amelia Mae, just 13 months before. The family went on to have nine children, with the sixth child born into the three-room cabin home.

Mary Lou married John “Jack” Edward Basham on Aug. 17, 1947. Her beloved Jack died in August this year, nine days before their 73rd wedding anniversary. Four other couples made up of friends and a cousin were also married in the same timeframe as Mary Lou and Jack; Vernon and Thelma Johnson, Don and Betty Trankle, Bob and Dode Blake, all of Kalispell, and Gale and Charlene Warren of Polson. These five couples were constant companions and in later years got together once a year in order to celebrate and maintain their strong, lifelong friendships.

She is survived by three children, daughters Jacklyn Lou Rossing (Steve) and Susan Diane Neville, and son Michael Dean Basham (Marshanna). Mary Lou had seven grandchildren, Jessica Dawn Gravlee (Billy), Eric Zachariah Hensyel (Gabrielle), Dana Alia Hensyel (Jonathan), Arielle Nicole Hensyel (Attila), Samantha Ashley Basham (Joel), Katelynn Marie Mosher (Cody), and Parker Jack Basham (Micah); 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Three of Mary Lou’s siblings are living; Teddy Ray Gilbertson (Donna) of Kalispell, Lawrence A. Gilbertson (Marie) of South Carolina, and Janice Kay McMillan of Chandler,

Arizona. She was predeceased by her husband, John Edward “Jack” Basham; her parents; siblings, Amelia Mae Tilton, Margaret J. “Peggy” Burgess, Harold B. Gilbertson, Clarence LeRoy Gilbertson and Jimmy Gene Gilbertson; and brothers-in law, Lloyd Tilton, Jesse Burgess and Larry McMillan.

She attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse, with five of her nine fellow students being siblings. She graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell, having completed a business program preparing for a secretarial and bookkeeping career. She excelled in bookkeeping, following in her father’s footsteps who kept books for many businesses around Kalispell while also tending their small farm. While in high school, she was hired by Armstrong Insurance Agency, earning pay along with high school credit. This job continued long after graduation. Her bookkeeping skills were instrumental in opening Clark Fork Gas Service with husband, Jack, after they decided on Thompson Falls to make their home.

Mary Lou volunteered her skills for the many organizations she belonged to. She was secretary/treasurer for Community Congregational Church for decades. She was secretary for Women’s Club for many years. She was hired as secretary for the school board in Thompson Falls and worked through the completion of the new high school built in1972. The church was a big part of Mary Lou’s life. She sang in the choir and worked on many committees throughout the years. Because of this, and in honor of her parents’ 60th wedding anniversary, daughter Jacki created a stained-glass panel for the narthex of the church.

Burial is Monday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. at Whitepine Cemetery. The family plans on a celebration of life in the spring, weather and pandemic permitting.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made to Community Congregational Church of Thompson Falls.