Mary (Eby) Lapp, 97

Mary Alice (Eby) Lapp passed away peacefully at home with family on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. As Mary considered heaven her eternal home, she had been awaiting this day for some time. During her final months, the Logan Health Hospice staff was a tremendous blessing to Mary and her family. 

Mary was born in Drake, Saskatchewan on June 14, 1928, to Angus and Annie Eby. She was the fourth of seven children, with three brothers and three sisters, and was raised on a farm near Drake, Saskatchewan. She attended school in Drake, Saskatchewan and business school while living and working in Kitchener, Ontario. 

Mary married the love of her life, Wayne Lapp, on June 28, 1957, at which time she moved to Kalispell. Mary and Wayne had a small farm with a large garden in Evergreen. While raising five children, Mary also somehow managed to grow, harvest and preserve amazing fruits and vegetables. Mary and Wayne also grew sweet corn and sold it in the fall. The whole family helped out, but Mary kept the operation on track and her dedication was probably why the corn was always in high demand.

Mary was an active member of Mountain View Mennonite Church. She especially enjoyed Thursdays at the women's sewing circle and later put her quilting skills to work making each of her grandchildren a quilt in colors they chose. Mary enjoyed visiting and playing games with her friends and family in the church and community. In turn, they often enjoyed her cooking and fresh garden produce. Many in the Flathead Valley also benefited from her various volunteer activities.  

Mary enjoyed the outdoor life on camping trips with family — as long as there was a reasonable mattress to sleep on and no bears nearby. She was an avid huckleberry picker and enjoyed picnicking and hiking around the Flathead Valley and in Glacier Park. Mary and Wayne lived together at their family home until Wayne’s passing in 2010, where Mary continued to reside until 2016, when she moved to an apartment in Kalispell. 

Mary is survived by her sister, Hilda Crawford (Alberta); sisters-in-law, Kathryn Lapp (Kalispell) and Rosella Eby (Saskatchewan); sons, Robert Lapp (Julie Islitzer) of San Diego and John Lapp of Kalispell and daughters, Sandra Heine (David) of Kalispell, Nancy Kanagy (Kent) of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Julie Lapp of Seattle. Mary had 11 grandchildren: Nick Lapp (Victoria Kong), Colton Lapp, Jordan Lapp; Loren Heine (Keaton), Tyler Heine (Jeanne), Brad Heine (Laura) and Jenessa Klinker (Tyler); Will Kanagy (Amy) and Molly Kanagy (Giuseppe Deleers-Certo), Sean Porter and Benjamin Porter. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Rayna, John, Aralyn, Brynlie, Rhett, Kinsley and Cru.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.