Karla Kay Armstrong

Karla Kay Armstrong, 66, of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, in Kalispell, surrounded by the love of her family. A beautiful and bright soul with deep and unwavering faith, Karla is now with her Lord & Savior.

Born on March 31, 1959, to Alvin and Dorothy Reid, Karla was raised under the wide Montana skies and carried the spirit of this place in her heart. She found joy in the natural beauty of the North Fork, cherished long backroad drives with her husband, and delighted in her garden where wind chimes sang softly in the breeze.

Karla married Bradley Armstrong, the love of her life, and together they shared 34 years of companionship, laughter, and adventure. Prior to her marriage to Bradley, Karla was married to David Armstrong, with whom she had her two beloved children, Gabriel Armstrong and Sarah Hylton.

Karla was known for her bubbly personality, her loving, non-judgmental heart, and her ability to make everyone around her feel seen and safe. People were drawn to her outgoing nature, warmth, kindness and humor —always playful but never unkind. She possessed a rare purity of spirit and brought fun and light into every space she entered.

A devoted homemaker, Karla cared for her son Gabriel throughout his life. Her care was constant and full of grace, a true reflection of her character. She survived years of chronic illness, never losing her strength or deep-rooted faith, and was lovingly cared for by her devoted husband Bradley, who remained the anchor of her life through all seasons.

Karla was a gifted singer with a voice so beautiful that even the loons would answer her calls across 9-Mile Lake. She was an avid collector of Fabergé-style eggs and loved playing cribbage and Skip-Bo with her father. Her pets brought her joy, her garden flourished under her care, and her heart was always full when she was surrounded by family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Dorothy Reid, her brother Danny Reid, father-in-law Bill Armstrong and her former husband, David Armstrong. She is survived by her loving husband Bradley Armstrong; her son Gabriel Armstrong; her daughter Sarah Hylton (Louis Hylton), her sisters Peggy Driscoll and Lorrie Larson, and mother-in-law Mary Armstrong, along with a circle of extended family and life-long friends who will miss her dearly.

A celebration of Karla’s life will be held at a later date, in the peaceful Montana mountains she loved so much. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to take a quiet drive, listen to the wind chimes, and remember Karla in the beauty around you.

Arrangements are under the care of Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.