Carolyn Joyce Brenner Hudlet

Carolyn Joyce Brenner Hudlet, 85, a woman who loved the Lord and served Him, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jan. 2, 2018, after a sudden illness. She was born July 15, 1932, to Ralph and Velma Brenner in Buffalo, New York, where she lived until she married Herbert Hudlet on November 25, 1953.

She graduated from nursing school in Buffalo, and applied her skills with a loving heart in towns from Longview, Texas to Idaho Falls and Boise, Idaho and then in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where the family moved to in 1977. She retired from Panhandle Health District in January 1995.

Carolyn enjoyed the lakes of northern Idaho and would carry her swimsuit for that chance to go for a swim. She loved dolphins and was given a birthday trip of a lifetime to Hawaii in 2011 where she was able to swim with the dolphins. She learned to slalom water ski at the age of 59 and continued to do so until her 81st birthday when her water skiing adventure ended with a partial finger amputation. She continued to enjoy an occasional tube ride, and loved watching the grandchildren enjoy water sports.

Moving to Montana in 1999, Carolyn and Herb helped to incorporate and begin Majestic View Ministry, a family camp and conference center near Bull Lake outside Troy, where she worked with everything from construction to cleaning to grounds work, but was best known for doing dishes and desserts, and was known as Grandma Hudlet to all who came. She truly had a servant’s heart and loved to do the behind scenes things that needed to be done.

She attended as many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild functions as she could. She loved cheering and clapping for them at ballgames, swim meets, concerts, plays, graduations and anything else they were involved in.

She had an open heart for all she met. Her home became “Hudlet Hotel” as it was always open to visitors and short term residents. She volunteered her nursing skills to families with special needs children. The past few years she has enjoyed visiting patients at Libby Care Center. She didn’t like it when illness or bad roads kept her from her regular Thursday time with people she cared about very much.

Many will remember her as the water-skiing great-grandma; the short lady who was often out working in her yard; the woman who loved the little things in life; the one who could laugh at herself and taught others to do the same; and who wrote many cards and letters of encouragement.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Herb in 2005; both her parents; sister Verda; brother Len; and baby brothers Ronald and Donald. She is survived by five children and their spouses; Karen Cooper(Nick) of Edmonds, Washington, Janet Miller (Clyde) of Troy, Sharon Murdock (Mark) of Moscow, Idaho, Bonnie Hudlet of Troy, and Steve Hudlet (Lea) of Hayden, Idaho; foreign exchange daughter Masami Oshima of Tokyo, Japan; sister Marion Degen (Bill) of Florida; brother Les Brenner (Gail) of North Carolina; 15 grandchildren and spouses; 18 great-grandchildren and spouse; and one great-great-grandchild; family on Herb’s side; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and the many, many to whom she was known as “Grandma.”

Since music and playing the piano was always a major part of her life, especially in church when she played and Herb led the singing, there will be a Singspiration Celebration of her life at Majestic View Ministry Retreat Center on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. She did not want people to travel far for her service, but instead to have a hymn-sing with their families or churches wherever they were. That was Grandma — she loved to hear people singing hymns that share the gospel, talk about heaven, and share the hope we have in Christ.

Memorials can be made to two ministries she loved: Majestic View Ministry (www.majesticview.org) or Shepherd Ministries (www.shepherdsministries.org). Local arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory of Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.