Sarah Kinzel Wold

– Sarah Kinzel Wold was born on Jan. 5, 1924, in Manitowac, Wisconsin, and passed away Sunday, May 31, 2015, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula following a brief illness.

Early on, George and Amelia Kinzel (Sarah's parents), Volga Germans, relocated several times from Nebraska, Wisconsin and Wyoming, finally to Montana, where they permanently settled on their dry land sugar beet farm near Harlem.

Sarah recalled fun times with their large (11 children) family. Of course there was hard work for everyone, including the children, but it left her with a love of farming and the open spaces of the plains, and a strong work ethic for the rest of her life.

Sarah became "mother" in her parents' family in her early teens (her mother passed away when Sarah was 13). She had to quit school in order to accomplish this. Since she loved school and learning, this was a great sacrifice to her. However she didn't ever give up on learning and later generously helped many neighborhood children, including her own, to get through subjects in school and learn piano basics. To hold one boy's interest, she recalled that she bribed him with M&M's!

It was in Harlem that Sarah met and married her love, Bernard Wold on March 9, 1946. When dating, he nicknamed her "Sally" and it stuck. Their marriage lasted over 64 years with Bernard (Ben) saluting his wife in 1990 in a letter to her on their anniversary: "She bore and raised two great daughters, making them her first thought in everything. Her family came first in all she undertook."

After marrying, Sally and Ben moved to Kalispell, Seeley Lake, and finally Missoula. She grew to love camping (after a shaky start to Glacier Park using borrowed gear). Rock Creek and Rainy Lake were two favorite spots.

Sally was an outgoing, caring person who loved to visit with anyone she happened to meet, particularly children. People enjoyed her company because she was genuine, a friendly person with a unique, gently teasing sense of humor.

She loved birds, particularly the songs of Meadowlarks and Canada Geese as they flew over. Flowers were a special love too, and gardening of all kinds kept her busy in summer. Although Sally worked hard at being a wife and mother, she also worked outside the home at times: cashier at a little grocery, cleaning homes and businesses, ironing and selling her handmade crafts. She was most proud of an early job, cashiering at the Buttrey's store in Havre, where she was able to line up repeat customers who liked coming to her stand.

In 1974 Sally was baptized as one of Jehovah's Christian Witnesses after a long and thorough study of the Bible. True to her personality, Sally spoke with many persons about life on a paradise earth coming in the near future. This hope was reflected many times in her conversations and journals. She looked forward to the coming of God's Kingdom mentioned in the Lord's Model Prayer by which God's will would be done on earth.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bernard in July 2010. She is survived by her daughter Thea Stewart of Missoula; daughter Janice Urquhart (Gary) of Missoula and grandson Michael Stewart of Missoula.

A memorial of Sally's life will be held at 2 p.m. June 13 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1115 Reserve St., Missoula.
Read Sarah Wold's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.