Ada Mary (Smith) Felsman
June 19, 1907 July 27, 2010
A special strong remarkable spirit freed the bonds of dementia and failing body, left her beloved Flathead Valley to be at peace with her heavenly father and many loved ones who preceded her to the glory of Heaven.
Ada was born to Oliver Douglas and Christina (Grant) Smith who emigrated from Nova Scotia to Philipsburg, Montana. To ensure a good education for their children they relocated to the Flathead Valley. Ada was the sixth of nine children and the first to be born in the Flathead. She was born in Bigfork, Montana on June 19, 1907. Ada attended Creston grade school and Flathead High School earning her diploma in 1925. She continued her education going to Normal School that summer and commencing her teaching career at Creston School in the fall at the age of 18. Ada's second teaching job took her to the West of Kalispell at Boorman School. While attending a "Box Social" she met her husband to be of 73 years, Herman Felsman. She and Herman married on September 13, 1928 at the county fair at the fairgrounds being the grandstand show for the evening. Ada discontinued teaching, opting to devote her life to being a full time wife and mother. She actively pursued her varied interest in homemaking, gardening, needlework, fishing and huckleberry picking. A meaningful part of her life was being involved with her Church. After many years Ada returned to teaching, while pursing her B.A. Degree in Education. She was granted her degree in 1966. Ada taught again at Boorman school and retired from teaching at Montford-Egan school. Ada was preceded in death by her parents, and all of her siblings,, James Grant Smith, Oliver Smith, Margaret (Smith)Orr,Christine Smith Dean, Alice (Smith) Mac Rae, Vivian (Smith) Kenshella Managhan, Robert Smith, and Amber (Smith) Collier, her husband Herman Felsman, her first born child Wilbur Dale"Billie" Felsman who died tragically at the age of five in 1935, two great grandchildren, Anna Moe, and Danny Fine, she is survived by two daughters, Patricia (Felsman) Fine of Missoula, and Sharon (Felsman) Bench of Spokane, Washington, 5 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.
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