Felicia Holter Burleigh Stimson

Whitefish native Felicia Holter Burleigh Stimson, 104, died May 5, 2014, with her family by her side in Milwaukie, Ore.

She was born March 2, 1910, in Whitefish to Ben Holter and Clara Prescott Holter and christened Clara Felicia Holter. The Holters moved to Whitefish from North Dakota in 1905. Ben Holter, a commanding figure, was a Whitefish policeman and served as chief of police from 1914-1919.

After graduating from high school, Felicia earned her teacher certification from the State Normal School in Cheney, Wash., in 1930. At age 19, she accepted her first teaching position — a one-room school house with three students in the North Fork. It was a time and place she greatly loved.

Felicia married John G. Burleigh in Whitefish, 1935. “Jack” would later work for the Great Northern Railway and was a consummate trapper, hunter and fisherman. Together, they raised three children, Sylvia, Jaci and Fred, and shared nearly 30 years of marriage.

Mrs. Burleigh, as her former students knew her, taught at Kuhn, Ford and LaSalle schools before teaching more than 20 years in the Whitefish school system. When requirements to teach public school changed, Felicia returned to college in Cheney and completed a bachelor of arts in English and home economics from Eastern Washington College in 1958.

Felicia and her family moved to Colton, Ore. in 1960, where she accepted a position to teach at the local high school. She officially retired in 1973 but continued to work as a substitute teacher into her early 70s. In all, Felicia’s teaching career spanned almost half of a century and positively influenced many students’ lives.

In 1989, Felicia married David G. Stimson, National Park Service (retired), with whom she had once been engaged to some 60 years prior. Felicia and Dave often entertained family and friends at their home in Whitefish and traveled extensively. They spent a total of 10 years together, until David passed, and were blessed with a happy and active golden age.  

A devout Episcopalian, Felicia alternately attended Holy Nativity in Whitefish and St. Paul’s in Oregon City, Ore. She frequently served as a volunteer at the Stumptown Historical Society in Whitefish and loved what she referred to as “God’s Country.” She liked to experience nature, played the piano, knit, crocheted and remained a life-long learner. Above all, she enjoyed being surrounded by family.

She was preceded in death by her brothers Richard, Clifford and Urban James Holter; infant son John Clifford Burleigh; daughter Sylvia Hood; and cousin Kay Luding.

Felicia is survived by her daughter Jaci Ward; son Frederic Burleigh; nephew Michael Holter; nieces Felicia Marshall and Joan Deichl; six grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and six grand nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service is to be held at the Episcopal Parish of St. Paul’s in Oregon City, Ore.