Louis (Louie) L. Jenkins
Louis (Louie) L. Jenkins, 77, passed away peacefully and comforted by his wife Lillian and daughter Catalina, on Jan. 24, 2025, at his home on Upper Thompson Lake from dementia.
He was born June 23, 1947, in Fairview, Montana to Ernest and Gladys Jenkins. He moved with his family from Fairview to Kalispell in 1959.
Louie graduated from Flathead High School in 1965. He loved learning and continued his education by going to York College in Nebraska for a year, taking some classes at Montana State University Northern for two years, taking computer classes at Flathead Valley Community College and completed the California State University Sacramento Certification program on Water and Wastewater.
Louie married Lillian Mosley on March 4, 1977, in Kalispell where they resided until 2013 before moving to the cabin they built at Upper Thompson Lake. He was previously married to Karen Hazelton Davis from Aug. 9, 1974 to 1975, when she passed away.
Louie worked at Jet Oil, when he was in high school. After he graduated, he worked at Plum Creek plywood plant in Evergreen, then the Columbia Falls aluminum plant. He moved to Olympia, Washington and worked for his brother-in-law, building houses. In 1975, he moved back to Montana and retired from the City of Kalispell’s Wastewater and Water departments where he worked for 35 years.
Louie served in the Montana National Guard from January 1968 until January 1973, when he was honorably discharged.
Louie was active in pee wee baseball, when his son was young and wanted to play ball, but they needed a coach. He volunteered to coach the team for two years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America for 10 years with his son. Starting as Pack leader for several dens when his son was a Cub Scout, then moving up with his son to Boy Scouts, where he became the assistant troop leader. Then he became troop leader. He loved going hiking and camping with his scout troop.
He was active in 4-H when his daughter joined with her horse. He spent one night a week all summer, hauling daughter and horse to the fairgrounds for her 4-H meetings.
Louie loved camping and fishing with his family on weekends in the summer. He also loved planning the yearly summer vacation. It always included taking the camper for two or three weeks. Wherever the adventure was that summer, Canada, the Black Hills, Disneyland and Washington coast. He had every minute of the vacation planned out.
Louie was a devoted husband and father, who until his last days expressed the love he had for his family
Louie was preceded in death by his wife Karen, daughter Janalee, his parents, and sister Arleen Stanton.
He is survived by his wife Lillian, son Jacob and wife Angie Jenkins, of Sioux City, Iowa, daughters Sarah Dubois, of Moses Lake, Washington, Catalina and husband Barrett LaMay, of Tempe, Arizona, and step-son Joe and wife Nancy Davis, of Westlake, Louisiana.; grandsons Noah Jenkins, Jayce Szalay, Kaden Clark and Kyler LaMay, granddaughter Emma Daza Obregon and great-grandson Braxton Joseph Malcom; sister Eileen Boesch; brothers Gordon and wife, Jackie, Ivan and wife, JoAnn, Bob and wife Kerry, and Allen and wife Barb; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation or the Dementia Society of America in his honor.
A celebration of life will be held this summer.
Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenberg.com.