Kathy Marie Haines Munson

MISSOULA ~

With the sounds of the 4th of July fireworks in the background, Kathy Marie Haines Munson began her journey to the next world at her home in Missoula, MT. She was born on March 18, 1956 to her parents Mary Miles and Jerry Haines. She was the baby of their family, joining her older brothers Mike and as family calls him Little Jer and sister Connie. They lived in their family home on South Ave, with lots of acreage that allowed for lots of pets including a horse, chickens, dogs, and even a skunk.

Kathy graduated from Sentinel High School and pursued higher education at the Missoula Vocational Education Institute, where she proudly served as their representative on the formation of University of Montana’s Indian Club, Kyiyo and their first pow wow. Early in her life, Kathy fully embraced her citizenship in the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Kathy was never one to conform to recognized norms. This was best exemplified in 1975 when she arrived with her new boyfriend, who most of us worried about because he was a biker and we weren’t sure he was safe. 50 years later, we were proven wrong over and over again as she married that biker, Craig, on January 31, 1976. Yes, they celebrated 50 years of marriage this year. In recent years, they traveled to Hawaii, a place they loved together.

Kathy and Craig welcomed two children to their family, Michael and Cody, and built their lives around them. They instilled their belief in the importance of education in their children with Mikey attaining a doctorate and Cody a master’s degree. The strong sense of family Kathy and Craig held was shared as well. Without a doubt, Kathy’s favorite role was being Yaya to Mali and Qene to Miles. In nearly 10 years since they were born, there was no time when they were not in the forefront of her plans. She loved caring for them, attending their events, feeding them, and their stayovers.

Kathy, like her mother, was a hard worker. She had an “old school” work ethic: Show up early, work hard every minute, and stay late when need be. She had a long career at Community Hospital. At one point, she was with the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit ensuring our tiniest of babies and their families were cared for. Her career path took a turn when she went to work for CSKT’s Tribal Health, which she told her family was her favorite place of employment as she felt that is where she truly belonged. I know from all the Facebook posts, she was loved and appreciated by the Tribal Health staff, many who shared memories of her infectious smile.

Like in her childhood, Kathy loved her pets, especially her dogs. She took in Mikey and Cody’s dogs when they needed care.

Kathy is survived by: her devoted husband Craig, who lovingly accompanied her to every cancer treatment throughout the past years in Missoula and Seattle, WA, without a complaint; Michael Munson, her husband Stipi and daughter Mali; and, her son Cody and his son Miles; her brother Mike, his wife Ann and their son Christopher in Las Vegas, NV; Jerry and his children Destiny and Rosalee in Butte, MT; and, her sister Connie and her grandchildren Devin, Sophie, and Lydia, with her husband Mars Sandavol and their little one Kʷkʷusm.

Services will be held at the CSKT Arlee Community Center on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 11:00 am. A meal will be served following the memorial service. If you are able to join the family, you are most welcome.

Kathy will be laid to rest at Missoula City Cemetery near her mom, dad, and niece, Sari Haines James McKinney.