Carol Fliginger

Carol Fliginger, 68, of Great Falls passed away peacefully Saturday, March 14, 2015. A celebration of Carols life will be held at the Schnider Funeral Home Hospitality Room on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.Carol was born January 8, 1947 in Minot, North Dakota to Butch and Ella Fliginger. Not long after, the family moved to Montana where Carol would spend most of her childhood. Carol loved being a cowgirl and anything to do with the outdoors. Throughout her life, she was an avid fisher and there was no briar patch she wouldnt crawl through for a brookie fish.After high school, Carol met her first husband, Joe Baronowski. Carol and her daughter, Tami, moved to Virginia where Joe and Carol were married. They settled in South Carolina where her daughters Brenda and Stacey were born.Carol was born with the soul of a gypsy and loved to travel. She became a truck driver and was able to see almost all of the United States and Canada. Eventually, she found herself settled in Milton, Florida. She loved the warm sun, the water and of course the fishing. She planned on staying rooted to Florida but the failing health of her parents brought her back home to Montana. She cared for them in Raynesford until the passing of her father. Afterwards, she moved to Belt and then finally Great Falls.She will forever be known for her beautiful crocheted Afghans, her delicious cooking and her impressive green thumb. Her roses always bloomed and her cookies never burnt. Her home was always opened to anyone who needed a warm meal or place to rest their head. We would like to add with great pride that in the last year of her life, Carol beat the demons of her addictions. She was as proud of herself as we were of her.Carol is survived by her daughters Tami (Bryan) Riphenburg of Great Falls, Brenda Kibbee of California and Stacey Baronowski of Virginia; granddaughters Amanda Riphenburg, Ashlee (Levi) Ginnaty, Katharin Riphenburg of Montana, Lexi Kibbee of California and Shelbi Kibbee (United States Army) stationed in Guam; great-grandson Brentley of California; best friends Betty Kortum of Raynesford; of course Carols forever loyal companion, Angel; siblings Gary (Michelle) Fliginger and Donna (Marty) Chenkovich.Carol is preceded in death by her parents Howard and Ella Fliginger.