Pearl Broad

Pearl “Irene” Leighty Broad, 84, passed away Dec. 27, 2012.

Irene was born on her parents’ farm south of Columbia Falls on Sept. 5, 1928, the 13th of 20 children born to Pearl and Bradford Leighty.

She grew up in the Flathead Valley and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1947. She married William Broad in July 1947 and was married to him for nearly 63 years.

She is survived by her daughter Naomi Manuwal and husband Dave, of Woodinville, Wash.; stepson Ronald Matkin and wife Sherry, of Brighton, Mich.; sisters Thelma Carter, of Columbia Falls, Laura Fuller, of Kettle Falls, Wash., Esther Ingraham, of Kalispell, Violet Lundy and husband Louis, of Aloha, Ore., and Ardith Wolfe and husband Gary, of Spanaway, Wash.; brothers Andy Leighty and wife Una, of Columbia Falls, and James Leighty and wife Ann, of Tacoma, Wash.; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home on Jan. 3, 2013. Burial followed at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Home Options Hospice, 275 Corporate Drive, Suite 600, Kalispell MT 5990l.