Lauri Kola died on November 25, 2016 at KRMC following a brief, fierce battle with pneumonia, which was preceded by a diagnosis of prostate cancer on November 2, leaving a grieving family behind but grateful for having had an opportunity to say final good-byes.

He was born in Heinola, Finland on August 17, 1945 to his Finnish-American mother, Helmi, and his father, Olavi, the 5th of 6 children. They moved to the U.S in 1950.  Lauri lost his mother at a young age.  He grew up in New England and, despite some hard times, retained fond memories of the years spent in Enfield, NH. He attended high school in Enfield but graduated his senior year at Northwood Prep school in Lake Placid, NY in 1963. He joined the Navy and was honorably discharged 4 years later. While in the Navy he spent some leave time at Alta, Utah skiing with his brother, Ike. He fell in love with the west. Following his stint in the military and a semester in college in Rhode Island, he headed west again and met his future wife, Susan Copenhaver, again at Alta, and spent the next 3 winters enjoying the ski-bum lifestyle while traveling in the summers. 

He reluctantly gave up that carefree life when he and Susan moved to Missoula in 1970 where he finished his college education at the University of Montana, got married, and started a family, recalling later an 'existential moment' (one of his favorite phrases) in which he looked down the long path of work, supporting his family, and parenting for the next forty years, which he did diligently and effectively. His first job following college was out on the Highline serving learning disabled kids in rural schools and acquiring the necessary skills to do it well. He also learned to appreciate the Big Skies of eastern Montana and loved the State in all its uncrowded glory, hunting and fishing in the time honored Montana way until he became too soft hearted to hunt as he aged. In 1977, with two sons, Max and Joe, in tow, Lauri and Susan moved to Kalispell where he continued to serve in the same capacity as a school psychologist with Kalispell School District #5 until his retirement in 2011.  His daughter Jill was born in Kalispell in 1979.

He loved his family. He was intelligent and reliable, a good cook, proud of his Finnish heritage, enjoyed reading, loved musicals, a poor singer who nevertheless enjoyed singing, reveled in making the kids' sweethearts sweat blood, often embarrassed the family in social situations, espoused a looney 'zap theory' regarding human life on earth with no basis whatsoever to support it, and was obstinately sedentary in his retirement years. Those who could handle him were endeared to him; he knew how to forgive and never held grudges.  We would give much to have him back. 

Lauri is preceded in death by his mother and father as well as his brother, Ike.  He leaves behind his wife Susan, sons Max Kola of Missoula, Joe Kola of Jackson, WY with his wife, Tracy, ("M.Y.O.B. Lauri!") and twin grandsons, Caden and Jack, daughter Jill Jacobson with her husband Brandon of Whitefish, 4 siblings - Imppa, Irene, Vaino, and Peter - and many nieces and nephews.  A memorial celebration of Lauri's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Community Clubhouse located at the Monterra Condominiums in Whitefish, MT.  Details to follow.

---

 Service Information