Sigrid Julia Barnes Underdal was born on November 22, 1915, in Pondera, Montana, to Norwegian immigrant parents, Berge and Anna Bortvedt. The second of five children, Sigrid grew up on the family farm and often rode to school with her brother on Rollo the horse. In 1932 she graduated as salutatorian from Valier High School. For the next four years she attended Concordia Lutheran College in Morehead, MN where she earned a BA in Chemistry.
Finding a position as a science teacher proved to be challenging for Sigrid; in many small communities in Montana the science teacher was expected to also coach football, an assignment for which she did not think she was prepared. After working for one season at the legislature in Helena, however, she was hired to teach high school science and math first in Inverness and then in Wilsall, where she met the science teacher who was coaching football, Pat Barnes. Sigrid and Pat were married on December 27, 1941.
Within two months of their marriage, Pat was drafted into the army. When, after months of training, he was sent to New York to await his shipping orders, Sigrid traveled east to see him and took a job in as a waitress in Schrafts. Once Pat left for England, where he was stationed for the rest of WWII, Sigrid returned to the west. She taught for two years in Helena and then moved to Washington State where she worked for Boeing and then taught in Acosta until Pat returned.
In June of 1946, Pat and Sigrid opened Pat Barnes Tackle Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana. During the next 36 years, Sigrid spent summers working in the shop along side Pat; doing the book-keeping, listening to fishing stories, and tying special order flies. Then, from October through April, she tied fifteen to twenty dozen flies a week in preparation for the next fishing season.
On the dedication page of his book about his life as a fisherman, Pat summed up Sigrid’s support of his business, “To my wife: who thought she was marrying a school teacher, found out he was a fisherman, and still stayed for better or worse: always a help.”
In her life apart from the tackle business, Sigrid taught Sunday Sch1ool classes, volunteered as her daughter’s Bluebird leader and her son’s Cub Scout den mother, planned birthday parties for her children Charles and Patricia, and made special treats for every holiday. For a number of years she worked part time as a teacher in Shodair Children’s Hospital. On Sunday afternoons she and Pat enjoyed games and other activities with Patricia and Charles.
In their retirement years, Sigrid accompanied Pat on five fishing trips to New Zealand and always enjoyed the break from Montana’s winter weather, the beautiful trees and flowers, and the friendly New Zealanders with whom she became friends. She also enjoyed having time to read, play the organ, volunteer with a number of organizations, and spend time with her five grandchildren.
Two years after Pat’s death in 1997, Sigrid married Melvin Underdal, whom she had known all of her life; Melvin’s mother was the midwife who delivered Sigrid, and their families had homesteaded in the same area of Montana. Sigrid and Melvin had eleven wonderful years together traveling, spending time with family and friends, and playing Upwords.
Sigrid died on February 20, 2015. She is survived by her sisters Ruth and Betty Bortvedt of Seattle, WA; her brother Kenneth Bortvedt of Portland, Oregon; her daughter Trish and grandchildren Luke and Natalie; her son Charles, daughter-in-law Rachel, and grandchildren Timothy, Grace, and David.
Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church, 535 N. Ewing Street in Helena. A reception will follow the funeral service in the social center of the church. Burial will take place at the Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery at Fort Harrison following the reception.
Service Schedule
Viewing
10:00 a.m.
Friday March 6, 2015
First Presbyterian Church
535 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday March 6, 2015
First Prebyterian Church
535 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the funeral service
Friday March 6, 2015
First Presbyterian Church
535 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
Following the Reception
Friday March 6, 2015
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Viewing
10:00 a.m.
Friday March 6, 2015
First Presbyterian Church
535 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday March 6, 2015
First Prebyterian Church
535 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the funeral service
Friday March 6, 2015
First Presbyterian Church
535 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
Following the Reception
Friday March 6, 2015
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison, Montana 59602
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Trish Barnes says
We miss you, Mom.
Denise Feller says
Trish–I am so sorry for all of you. Even though we know it will happen, we want to hold on because we know what a loss it will be. You are all in my prayers.
Kathy Cason Chambers says
Sig was such a wonderful, gentle lady and always positive and supportive. She was a favorite Sunday School teacher and friend. Patricia and Charles, you have my sympathy and prayers for peace. I am so sorry to miss her service but we are out of town.
Muriel Wild says
Charles and Patricia,
Sig and Pat were our very good friends. We shared many dinners with them. John took Pat to West Yellowstone to check the cabin. Sig made cucumber sandwiches for them. Good memories.
Muriel
Larry Benton says
I’m a year late, but love and respect is always on time. I met Pat when he taught my Jr. High science class teacher in 1955′ and was blesses to be invited to his house to learn to tie flies. Later that summer, he and Sig invited wme to WY to spend a couple of weeks, I’ll never forget the fishing, fly tying or the wonderful hospitality and warmth they demonstrated. What beautiful people! I’ve missed them for decades!
The world (and I) are better for them being planted on this crazy earth. God rest their souls ….