Marie K. Friede

Marie Kay Friede, age 67, passed away on the morning of May 20, 2021 at the Bee Hive care
center in Columbia Falls. Marie was born on March 5, 1954 to Mary Matovick in Bismark, North
Dakota. Her family at the time lived in Steel, ND. Marie was later adopted by Kenny Nieskens.
She moved around as a child and attended many different schools in Eastern Montana and the
western part of North Dakota. She graduated from the high school in Glasgow, MT in 1973. She
soon married John Friede, and together they adopted their only son Travis Friede. They made
their home in the Flathead Valley. John passed away in 1993. Marie had a variety of interesting
jobs to include a 911 dispatcher in Columbia Falls, the driver’s license department and her most
recent position at the county treasurer for the courthouse in Florence, Arizona.

Marie found a second chance at love in Fred Timlick. For nearly twenty-eight years together
they made their home a warm and comfortable place for family and friends to gather. They
shared many of the same interests, enjoyed travelling and splitting their time between Arizona,
Condon and their home on Helena Flats. They enjoyed a memorable vacation together touring
Alaska in 2004. Marie’s home was where her crafts and pig collections were. She was an avid
quilter, baker, seamstress and excellent cook. She made everything from curtains, to doll
dresses, bead work and even eclectic rugs from recycled shopping bags. Her recipes were
unmatched and will be shared at family gatherings for years to come. She loved sharing her
love of cooking with her granddaughter Ella. She even made them matching aprons. You could
hear Marie’s laugh from a mile away. It was robust and joyful. She loved a good joke, a funny
story and for many years a ride with Fred on the Harley. She loved her blue corvette, her dog
Allie and hauling her lawn chair to her grandkids’ games. She created special sleepovers to
include Scooby Doo with Brooks and tourist days around the Flathead when Henry and Calvin
came to visit.

Marie was proceeded in death by her parents, Mary and Kenny, her sister Kari, and her first
husband John. She is survived by her life partner and best friend Fred Timlick, her son Travis of
Libby, MT, her brother Duke Nieskens of Laurel, MT, sister Lori Scofield of Nebraska, step
children Michelle Hammer (Val) and Ryan Timlick (Kristin) and her grandchildren, Henry and
Calvin Hammer and Ella and Brooks Timlick, and many extended family and friends.

Marie had a gentle calm about her and a giant heart. She was close to her siblings and enjoyed
the simple things, like gatherings with friends, a good campfire or a ride in the desert. She was a
very generous person and had impeccable organizational skills. She will be missed by those
she has left behind, but never forgotten. Gramma Rie’s recipes will continue to be passed on.

Please join the family for a memorial service at Easthaven Baptist Church, Kalispell, MT on
Friday, June 11th at 11:00 am. There will be a lunch reception following.
Austin Funeral & Cremation Services in Whitefish is caring for the family.

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