Carolyn L. Demin

Carolyn L. Demin passed away Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at her home after a valiant battle with leukemia. The Missoula, Nine Mile and surrounding area has lost a real gem.

Carolyn was born to Art and Maxine Long on June 10, 1938, in Missoula and was an only child. She attended Paxson Elementary School and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1956.

Shortly after graduation, Carolyn and three friends moved to Hawaii. They had many fun-loving adventures and it was in Hawaii that Carolyn began her banking career. Upon her return to Missoula, she worked for First State Bank, First Interstate Bank and in September of 1994 continued her career by joining First Security Bank as an account representative. She retired from First Security Bank in April of 2010. She was a firm believer in good customer service and excelled at it. Many of her customers were considered her "banking family."

Carolyn married Bob Demin, "the love of her life," on June 8, 1972. They traveled extensively as part of Bob's military career and had a myriad of friends and adventures during that time. One of the dearest relationships was with Liz and Joe Crawford and they were the "infamous four."

Upon Bob's retirement, they returned to Montana and lived on the family ranch in Nine Mile, raising cattle and hay. Bob preceded her in death Sept. 18, 1992.

Carolyn was involved in her community wherever she lived. She was treasurer of the Officers Wives Club in Presidio, California, and head of Financial Counseling and Army Community Service in Frankfurt, Germany. She served as treasurer of the Nine Mile Community Center from 1992 to 2015 and treasurer of the Nine Mile Historic Church Committee. She was an instrumental part of the group involved with moving the Historic Nine Mile Church to its present location and also in the success of building the pavilion at the Nine Mile Community Center. Carolyn deeply loved the Nine Mile and cared about land and open space. She proudly served on the Open Lands Advisory Board since December of 2006.

Carolyn loved her animals, especially her horses and Labs. Her Labs were her children and she enjoyed their company. Her passion was the Montana Grizzlies, and she attended their football games as long as she was able, singing the fight song, in her words, "with more vigor than talent."

A special thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Cancer Center at St. Pat's; they took good care of her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Demin; her parents; and her brother-in-law, Lester Robinson. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Joan Robinson; daughter Leslie (Jim) Edgcomb and their daughter, Stacie (John) Lansom; Joan's son, Byron (Linda) and children Raymond (Jennifer) and great-grandsons Giovanni and Luka; and Joan's son, Roy; brother–in-law, Victor Demin and his daughters Vickie and Sharon, and son Eddie. She is also survived by four cousins, Gail (Jack) Roderick, Joy Swenson, Harlene (Fred) Fortune, Mark Ogle and their families. Also surviving Carolyn are many good friends including Sue Stanley, Nancy and Gene Mostad, Linda Mann, Jane Beck and many, many more too numerous to mention.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 3, at Garden City Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of Western Montana, Animal Control of Missoula County or the Nine Mile Historic Church and Pavillion. Mail to Nine Mile Community Center, 32880 Piney Meadows Lane, Huson, MT 59846.


Read Carolyn Demin's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.