Linda Kay Papke

MISSOULA ~ Linda Papke, 87, of Missoula, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2025 at the Village Senior Residence of complications from dementia.

Linda’s roots to Montana ran deep. She was born on September 21, 1937 in San Diego, California to Russ and Delores Conkling, followed a short time later by brother, Charles. And while she was born a California girl, it was only a few years later, after her father returned from serving in the military during WWII, that the family started out on a new adventure. Her father’s plan was to use his GI Bill to attend the University of Montana. As often happens in life, the best laid plans often take a different path than expected. The Conkling family took a drive up through the Swan Valley, and fell in love with the area. They set down roots in Condon, building a small one- bedroom cabin and a local country store, Buckhorn Camp (today the Mission Mountain Mercantile). They were approved as postmasters and added the post office to the store, followed later by a meat storage locker and meat processing plant and 3 cabins for boarding and overnight guests.

Linda attended a one room schoolhouse for elementary school in Condon, and helped her family in tending the store, cleaning cabins, hauling wood for the stoves, cutting meat and visiting with the locals and boarders. Not all work and no play though; there were plenty of dances and shindigs at the local community center as well as the local bar where the community all gathered. One of the boarders (James (Jim)Papke) became good friends with her parents which she found a bit annoying as they would all be enjoying themselves, which left her in charge of watching the store!

The nearest High School at that time was Missoula County High School. Too far to drive back and forth each day. Linda boarded in Missoula for school, and went home to Condon on the weekends. After graduation she returned to Buckhorn Camp, and once again crossed paths with Jim Papke, this time each finding each other much more interesting 😊. When he went to an airline mechanics training school in California, she followed shortly after to attend a Dental assistant training school. Within months there were engaged, married, and expecting a new family member, a daughter.

Trainings completed, and a new job in Seattle, the Papke family moved and welcomed their son. Their time in the Seattle area was filled with clamming, digging for geoducks, and fishing; but the pull of their roots to Montana were strong, and they returned, settling down in Missoula to focus on their family. Jim returned forestry, and Linda to becoming a homemaker. Their lives were full of love and outdoors; Camping, Hiking, Skiing, time at Flathead Lake, Scouting , all being together as a family. Linda worked a few years at C.M. Russell School while the kids were there. Some of her best friends were ones she worked with during that period, and was friends with them until the end of her life. She was also a member of PEO for several years, meeting many new friends.

Linda was a woman of many talents, teaching herself to draw, paint and sew. Entering some of her better art work in the Western Montana State Fair. One year winning Best in Show in the portrait category. She moved from painting on canvas, to creating art with quilting. A beloved member of the “Hippie Moms”, a group of ladies who loved to quilt, hike, support each other, and overall have a really fun time together. Some of her best work on quilts was done with this great group of ladies.

Linda’s legacy will live on not only through the beautiful art she created that has been shared with family and friends, but primarily through the family she and Jim created together. She was predeceased by Jim in 2014, and is survived by her daughter, Jean (Ben) Hagyard, son Curt (Cheryl) Papke, 2 grandchildren and their families: Jim (Celi) Papke and Rayel (David) McKennett and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service in Linda’s honor will be held on Thursday, September 11, from 2:30pm-4:30p, in the Blackfoot Boardroom of the Missoula Public Library (4th floor, left out of the elevators). Please join us and bring your memories and stories to share.