Gladys Disney
Gladys Disney
HOT SPRINGS — Former Missoula and Polson resident, 99-year-old Gladys Marie McDonald Disney “Glady,” passed away on Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Hot Springs Health and Rehab Center. Gladys was the oldest living member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Glady had to give up independent living several years ago due to health issues and lived in an assisted living center in Missoula for one year and then a Ronan supportive living center for two years. For the last year of her life, she lived in the Hot Springs Health and Rehab Center. The family wishes to express our gratitude for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Elderly Service and Tribal Health Department whose services and support enabled Gladys to live independently as long as she was able. She was a fiercely independent woman.
Gladys was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation. She was one of 13 children born to Lydia (Ludington) and John McDonald.
Glady attended school in Dixon until she was 14 years old, then attended Flandreau Indian Boarding School in South Dakota. Following graduation, she went to Minneapolis to work and eventually moved to Seattle to work in the shipyards during World War II.
It was there where she met her first husband, Larry Lynde, Sr., a career Navy non-commissioned officer. They lived the typical Navy life, moving many times. The couple had two children, Larry Lynde, Jr., and Kim Marie. They eventually divorced, and Gladys with Larry Jr. and Kim in tow, moved back to the reservation and eventually to Missoula, where she worked in a variety of restaurants until returning to the Flathead
Reservation in the mid-1980s. She lived in Polson with her husband, Don Disney.
Gladys continued to work in a variety of restaurants, Tribal Elderly Services and Early Childhood Services until retiring at 85 years of age.
Gladys enjoyed being in the company of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and in the waning years of life, her great-great grandchildren. In Polson her great-grandchildren, Jasmine and Robert James (aka RJ), would visit her daily after school and in the summer. They all had a special bond to each other.
Gladys is survived by her daughter, Kim (Bernie) Azure; grand-daughter, LaNada Delores Azure-Hamann; great-grandson, Ben Azure-DeFrance; great-great grandson, Kellan; great-grand daughter, Aurora Aggie-Jo Azure; great great-granddaughters, Evelyn Skye and Esme Vera Moon; great-granddaughter, Jasmine Hamman; and great-grandson, Robert James (RJ) Hamman; granddaughter, Casey Michel (Jason Pierre) Azure; great-granddaughter, Natasha LaNada McLeod; great great-grandsons, Carter Jason and Anthony James; great-grandson, Jace Scott Bear Pierre; and grandsons, Mitchel Joe-Bear Azure and Augustus Skye Azure. She also leaves behind her brother, Wyman (Thelma) McDonald, and numerous nieces, nephews and numerous other relatives.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Larry Lynde, Jr.; and her husbands, Larry Lynde Sr., and Don Disney; and siblings, Lona Olson, Evelyn McDonald, Mabel Felsman, Alma Branson, Mary Lou Howlett, Betty McDonald Lester, Jack McDonald, Donald “Boots” McDonald, Dan McDonald, Tom “Satch” McDonald, and two siblings who died in infancy.
Services have been held.
