Esther Salomon Bick

Esther Salomon Bick, a truly remarkable woman, went peacefully to her heavenly home on Friday, Feb. 27, at St Joseph's Hospital in Polson with her family by her side.

Mom was born to Thomas and Gertrude Salomon on Nov 21, 1935, at the home of the midwife in Polson and raised on the family farm west of Pablo.

She attended school in Pablo and Ronan, graduating with the class of 1954. She was active in 4-H, loved the outdoors, and built up her own herd of cows. She later worked at Peschel’s Cafe and then the local grocery store.

After a skating party, Mom was picked up right off the ice by her future husband, Arthur Bick, and he kept her. They were married on Dec. 10, 1955, and began raising their family and farming on their own acreage. Even breaking her leg couldn't slow Mom down, she had a handle put on her cast and continued to farm, garden, cook and chase after four youngsters.

In 1965 they purchased the Quality Market grocery store and moved their family to St. Ignatius. They were excellent businesspeople, moving the store and expanding it several times.

Mom stayed involved in her community, active with Jayceens, Chamber of Commerce and serving as a City Councilwoman, along with being a Cub Scout den mother. Friendly and outgoing, if you met mom, you loved her and she and Dad gathered often with friends and family for visiting, traveling, games, parties or dancing.

After selling the grocery store in 1978, and with all her kids graduated, Mom fulfilled her lifelong dream and attended college. She drove to Missoula each day and graduated near her 45th birthday as an LPN. Her new career led to employment at the Polson Rest Home, St. Ignatius Hospital, Ronan Hospital, and then as a Home Healthcare Nurse. She loved nursing and still made time for Foothills Club and Leon Ladies Aid.

A piece of paradise with a small acreage at the base of the Mission Mountains called and Mom and Dad built a new house atop Post Creek Hill. Dad passed there in 2010, but Mom kept the farm and garden going.

She gained a new dancing partner with her special friend, Ron Newton, and they spent 10 years together. After a brief stay in Ronan, Mom moved to St. Joseph's Assisted Living in 2021 where she was profoundly happy and continued to be a social butterfly, finding old friends and creating many new ones. Thankfully, her entire family and many friends gathered for her 90th birthday in November.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Gertrude; an infant son, Glen; husband Art; special friend Ron; and brothers Ted and Ralph Salomon.

She is survived by her children, Candee (Terry) Krantz, Helena; Linda (Roger) McLinden, East Helena; Gary (Annette) Bick, Spokane; Nancy Kirbie, South Bend, Ind.; sister Delores (Jim) Rogers, Charlo; and brother Ray (Darlene) Polson. Also, grandchildren Becky (Jesse) Dupre, Missoula; Em Krantz, Portland; Kara (Brandon) Marceau, Belgrade; Kris (Monica) McLinden, Hamilton; Scott (Michelle) McLinden, Frenchtown; Dan McLinden, Butte; Sara (Tristan) Weeks, Liberty Lake, Wash.; Steven (Christina) Bick, Otis Orchards, Wash.; Danielle (Michael) Powell, Spokane; Laura Kneeshaw, Spokane; Kyle (Ann Marie) Kneeshaw, Spokane; Kate (Brian) Dubinski, Milwaukee, Wis.; Kelsey (Jared) Plaia, Granger, Ind., Michael Kirbie, Bloomington, Ind.; and great-grandchildren Andrew and Katie McLinden, Matylda and Myles McLinden, Ava and Nora Dupre, Greyson Marceau, Benjamin Dubinski, Calvin and Jameson Weeks, and Noellle and Jordan Powell.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 6, at the Mission Valley United Methodist Church with visitation at noon and service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan, then a reception back at the church. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com.

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.