Authorities identified the body pulled from Flathead Lake on Wednesday as Gale Dal Molin Eversole, 72, of Bigfork.  

An autopsy has been completed at the Montana State Crime Lab, and while cause and manner of death are still under investigation, Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said she was not a victim of a stabbing or shooting. 

Eversole’s body was discovered Wednesday morning by a wake surfing class about half a mile from the Wayfarers Unit of Flathead Lake State Park near Bigfork.  

Zach Wenzel, who owns and operates Blue Cat Boat Rentals in Bigfork, said the body was discovered by a family taking a wake surf lesson with the outfitter. A Blue Cat employee was also on the boat instructing the lesson. 

“It was our first surf lesson of the year, and about an hour into it, they went to switch from having an adult surfing,” Wenzel said. “One of the kids got in the water, and about 30 feet away they saw this body floating, which I’m sure was about as traumatizing as it could be.” 

The employee called Wenzel, who told everyone to get back on the boat and return to the dock. He called the Sheriff’s Office and took two of the deputies out on his boat to locate the body again before search and rescue crews retrieved it an hour later.  

“She was in full hiking clothes,” said Wenzel. “My experience of sending people out on boats all summer long, I didn't think she was in boating attire at all. I guess that she might have fallen in somewhere. It didn't seem like she was planning on going on the lake that day.” 

Wenzel said the discovery of the body came as a shock to everyone, including the authorities, especially given the lack of a corresponding missing persons report.  

“They thought it was just kind of like a log or something, not a person,” Wenzel said. “They said that every time they get a call, if there's someone floating out there, 99% of the time it’s something else. So we were not prepared for that either.” 

The discovery of Eversole’s body in the lake came as the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a slew of water-related incidents, Heino said. He urged recreationalists to exercise caution around bodies of water. High water conditions, cold water temperatures and increased debris pose a threat to boaters and swimmers. 

“Our volunteer and professional first responders stand ready and continue to respond diligently to these emergencies, but we need the public's help to keep everyone safe,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in a press release. “We are experiencing elevated water levels throughout the region, and conditions can change rapidly. We encourage everyone to closely monitor river conditions, weather forecasts and local advisories before entering or recreating near the water.” 

The Sheriff’s Office recommends wearing a properly fitted life jacket, supervising children near any body of water and remaining alert for obstacles that may be hidden by high water levels.  

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.