Marie Mutchler
POLSON — Marie Mutchler passed away while holding the hands of her daughters on June 28, 2019, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. Born on March 4, 1933, to Alfred and Monica (Shue) Whitehouse, she grew up in a small home in Polson where McDonald’s now stands.
Marie’s mother passed away when she was five years old and she was raised primarily by her four siblings and their hard-working father who worked at the local lumber mill. This instilled in her a toughness and resiliency she had along with a quick wit that made us laugh through the years.
Marie worked as a lifeguard during her teenage years at the new golf course dock in Polson. She would jump over the newly planted pine trees at the golf course on her way to the lake and would listen for the whistle at the mill and run home with her siblings to get dinner ready for their father before he arrived home.
Marie married Robert Mutchler on June 30, 1950, in Polson and together they raised three daughters, Lynne, Sue and Sheri on the family farm west of Pablo. She was an avid gardener and it’s been mentioned she had the most beautiful flowers in Pablo. Marie had a fantastic vegetable garden and would can many vegetables and fruit for her family. As well as being a busy wife, mother, gardener and farmer, she worked as a waitress at Allentown for several years in the evenings. She loved to travel when she retired and enjoyed taking mystery tours around the Northwest. There were many things she loved, her flowers and houseplants, crunchy Cheetos, Milky Way candy bars, her grandchildren and last but not least, Diet Coke, but her greatest, absolute joy was raising her twin granddaughters, Shannon and Shawna. She always enjoyed visiting with neighbors at the cabin or at home and talking to her sister, May on the phone. You could count on a treat when stopping at the Mutchler home because she always had a generous stockpile of cookies and candy. Family dinners and holidays will not be the same without her conversation, rice Krispy treats, Jell-O, and potato salad.
Marie is survived by her husband of nearly 69 years - Marie passed away two days before their anniversary; her daughters, Lynne Fisher (Warren), Sue Aylesworth (Dan); her sister, May Granlund; her granddaughter, Macy Goode (Todd); her grandson, Justin Fisher (Aphia); her grandson, Ricky McLeod (Leslie); her granddaughters, Shawna and Shannon Oakley; her great grandsons, Wyatt, Boston, and Crosby Goode, Jaspin and Landin Fisher and Liam McCleod; and lastly, her honorary granddaughter, Kaitlyn Burrowes.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Duane and her sisters, Ruth and Vera. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter.
Marie has requested no funeral service. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at: www.thelakefuneralhomeandcremation.com. Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
