Marion Kathleen Foley, 76

It is with profound sadness that the children and family of Marion Kathleen Foley announce her departure from this world to the next. Marion began this journey on Dec. 23, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by her children in the home she built on Abbott Creek.

She was born on June 8, 1949, to Tom and Edna (Jay) Foley, joining four other siblings in a one-room cabin near the F.K. & L. Logging Company outside Martin City. Four more children would follow, placing Marion smack dab in the middle of nine siblings. She graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1968 and held a degree in Humanities from the University of Montana.

In 1974, she married Dennis Holden, and over the years she and Den adopted Erin, Sean, Jennifer and JC (Juan Carlos). She adored her children and was a fierce advocate for their health and well-being. She could be amazingly stubborn, but her grit, determination, and creative spirit never ceased to amaze those who knew her. Marion always strove to follow in her mom’s footsteps: building structures, caring for livestock, fencing and operating a tractor. No one loved haying on a hot summer day more than she did.

Marion loved her various four-legged pals and she was one heck of a horsewoman. She and her sister Rose eagerly awaited the spring and autumn return of the Forest Service pack mules and horses in the nearby pastures. So many new animals to choose from, each would claim their favorite mount and with no gear, race through the fields, even passing their little brother Murphy back and forth, at full gallop. 

One summer, she convinced her parents to let her (13) and Rose (11) circumnavigate the Hungry Horse Reservoir on their horses, Chico and Flame, with a pack horse, Eagle. Setting up and breaking camp each day, hobbling the horses at night, cooking on the campfire, the journey took five days. The independent pair didn’t realize until later that log truck drivers had been reporting the girls’ progress each day to their parents. Over her lifetime, Marion rode thousands of miles on horseback, via old logging roads out her back door or trailering the horses to a new adventure. During the last decade, she made an annual excursion into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, often accompanied by her grandchildren, Autumn and Thomas. Marion, Thomas and her beloved dog, Togo, had just returned from an impromptu five-day trip into the Bob in September when she became ill.

Marion was an exceptionally intelligent and capable person. She worked many years as a veterinary assistant for Dr. Paul Smiley, and later delivered mail for the U.S. Postal Service. She was dedicated to education and was elected several times to represent the Canyon students for Columbia Falls District 6 school board and also served on the board for Flathead Valley Community College.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Jay Foley; her sister, CaraLee Foley; brothers, Hugh and Murphy Foley; husband, Dennis Holden and her son, Juan Carlos. 

She is survived by her children, Sean, Erin (Robbie) and Jennifer Holden; her grandchildren, Autumn (Levi) and Thomas Clevenstine; sisters Molly Hooker, Midge Harkins, Rosemary Mattick (Ed) and Kate Foley (John); her brother, Doyle Foley (Ginny) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Marion did an exceptional job teaching Erin, Robbie and Jennifer how to manage the daily affairs of running a household, and with help from Sean and family, they will continue to do so. Please consider a donation at Glacier Bank under the name “Erin Foley” to establish a trust for them to help with future expenses. 

A celebration of Marion’s life will be held at Abbott Valley in the spring. Please watch for announcements.