Genevieve Schulze

Genevieve Louise Warkins Schulze, 90, of Columbia Falls passed away on Dec. 1, 2025, in Kalispell at Logan Health Medical Center. She was born Sept. 27, 1935, at her grandmother’s log cabin in Coalwood to Charles and Dora Warkins. She grew up in Eastern Montana where she went to grade school. Her mode of transportation was Buddy, her palomino pony, a constant companion.

In 1945 the family moved to the Flathead Valley and resided at the Mooring Ranch located at the base of Swan Range.

She continued her education at Deer Park School, and after the family moved to the Pine Grove area, she met her future husband, Gerald Schulze, on the school bus. She graduated from Flathead High School in 1953, and she and Gerald married on Valentine’s Day that same year. Gerald joined the Army, and they were stationed in Salinas, California. After Gerald’s assignment, they moved back to Kalispell and joined Gerald’s father in a farming and dairy operation on Whitefish Stage Road. She joined the Seventh day Adventist Church in 1957, and a year later Gerald was also baptized.

There were three daughters born in Kalispell, Roxanna, Melinda, and Melanie.

In 1961, Gerald felt a call to the ministry.

They moved to College Place, Washington where he attended Walla Walla College and graduated in 1965. After his schooling, he pastored in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and came full circle back to Montana. He retired in Kalispell. Being a Pastor’s wife, her piano skills served her well as she played for the various churches they ministered in. Moving so often, Genevieve became an expert at packing up the household. She was an excellent seamstress, and her girls never had a store-bought dress for many years. Neither did their Barbie dolls.

Genevieve had many passions besides her husband and children.

She had many hobbies; her best being crocheted rugs and rugs woven on a wagon wheel. The fabric came from polyester clothing she laboriously took apart with the seam ripper. A few years ago, one of her daughters introduced her to painting on rocks which she hid in the Kalispell and Columbia Falls areas as part of the “Kindness Rock Project.”

Growing up during the Depression shaped Genevieve into a resourceful and frugal woman. She saved everything that might someday be useful, a habit that became one of her most endearing traits. Even with her practical nature, she carried a warm sense of humor that stayed with her throughout her life, offering laughter and light to those around her — even in her final days.

She is survived by her daughters, Melinda and Melanie; her grandchildren, Stephon Schulze, Laurel (Jake) Barrett, Melina (Michael) Murri and Magon (Zach) Childress; her great-grandchildren, Jasmyn, Genevieve, Curtis, Justin, Sophia and Jack; her brother, Charles “Chuck” Warkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, her parents, Dora and Charles, the twin of Melinda, Monte, daughter, Roxanna, sister-inlaw, Myrna Warkins, and her in laws, George and Anna Schulze.

A private viewing will be held at noon on Friday, Dec. 5 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home with a public viewing to follow at 1 p.m. Afterwards, a graveside service will be held at Conrad Memorial Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

The family gives a special thanks to the Dialysis Clinic for their caring staff, and to Logan Health Medical Center.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home caring for the family.