Rose Georgia Novacek Schliep

Rose Georgia Novacek Schliep died Sept. 20, 2008 at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby.

She was born on June 2, 1920 in Stanley, N.D., to John and Barbara Novacek. She was the youngest of five girls. She graduated from Opheim High School, where she played as a star basketball player. After graduation she went to beauty school in Chinook, Mont. She opened the first beauty shop in Opheim called the Kut and Kurl.

On July 15, 1942, she married Robert Schliep in Reno, Nev., and they moved to Oakland, Calif. The couple had four daughters. Mrs. Schliep opened a beauty shop in her home and there she worked for almost 10 years. They moved to Holloway, Minn., and bought a dairy farm. She also had a beauty shop in her home there.

She learned the art of quilting, soap making, and planted and harvested a huge garden every year. She taught Sunday school and was a choir director at Zion Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for 13 years.

In 1964, they moved to Libby, Montana and she opened the Mother-Daughter Beauty Salon with her daughter, Sharon. Her daughters, Corliss and Connie, joined the shop after they graduated from beauty school. Her daughter, Karen, also worked there when she visited during the summer. Mrs. Schliep retired from the beauty shop at age 80.

She taught Sunday school at St. John Lutheran Church for 20 years. She was very talented in creating plays and skits for the enjoyment of the ladies church group and also at the Senior Community Center in Arizona, where she and her husband wintered for 28 years.

Her hobbies were sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting and cake decorating. She also enjoyed making crafts with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Over the years she made more than 300 quilts and afghans for her family.

The couple enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and went on Hawaiian and Caribbean cruises.

Survivors include her husband Bob, Libby; four daughters, Karen Albu and husband John, Minnesota; Sharon Tayler, Montana; Corliss Nelson, Connie Thomson and husband Collin, Libby; a sister Anna Fossum, Pullman, Wash.; 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be Friday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Libby. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8 p.m. at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church for the Sunday school program.