Kathryn Leir

Former longtime Libby resident Kathryn M. Leir, 89, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, at Spokane.

She was born at Binford, N.D., on Feb. 25, 1915, to Clarence Brodshaug and Kathryn Moore Brodshaug.

The family lived at McHenry, N.D., where she was raised and educated.

Kathryn married Mansfield Leir on Oct. 23, 1935, at Moorehead, Minn., and they lived at McHenry and later in the Fargo-Moorehead area until moving to Libby in 1946.

The Leirs raised their family in Libby, where Kathryn was a full-time mom.

Her husband died in 1979 and Kathryn remained in Libby until moving to the Spokane area in 1986.

She enjoyed being a mother and grandmother, was an extraordinary cook and baker and is especially remembered for her homemade bread, doughnuts and lefse.

She and her husband especially enjoyed camping and fishing in the mountains surrounding Libby.

Kathryn is survived by daughters Dixie Lewis and her husband Lloyd, Spokane; Bonnie Swenson and her husband Gary, Libby; sister Doris Aldrich, Corpus Christi, Texas; grandchildren LaKay Bergin and Kimberly Dahl and great-grandchildren Ryan Bergin, Aaron Bergin and Cameron Bergin.

Services will be conducted at noon on Saturday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home Chapel followed by interment in the City of Libby Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday and until service time on Saturday.