Constance “Connie” Patricia Fogle Colonius passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026 leaving behind a legacy of vegetable gardens, lap cats, good cooks, skiers, readers, and well-managed chore lists.  She was 93.

Connie was born September 28, 1932, in rural Ohio during the Great Depression, the oldest and only girl of four children born to Harland and Florence (Edie) Fogle. Whip-smart and gutsy from a young age, Connie traveled to Washington, D.C. at 13 as Ohio’s representative in the National Spelling Bee. At 16, she left the Hudson family farm to further broaden her horizons, beginning college where she studied Education, French, and Home Economics.

Several years later, while teaching 4th grade in Aurora, Ohio, Connie returned to school, pursuing her Master’s in Education at Kent State when another important pursuit emerged: love.  Fellow Master's student, high school football coach, and elementary school teacher--the charming and very fortunate George Colonius convinced Connie to say 'yes' on November 23, 1960 at the close of Ohio's high school football season. She wore a stunning off-white damask suit with a pencil skirt and three-quarter sleeves she sewed herself.

Ever observant and up for a challenge, Connie recognized George loved skiing almost as much as football, and together they recognized that skiing had the potential to become the family winter activity. Beginning with the enlistment of a local teen as the family ski instructor, Connie loaded up her Camaro convertible and drove her 3 young kids to the local hill.  Connie learned how to side step and fall after an attempted rescue of the young and off-trail prone Carl resulted in a broken coccyx.  Never one to give up, Connie hired on the local ski hill's Austrian ski school director to work on turning and stopping, becoming so proficient that she was asked to teach: the first of three generations worth of Colonius ski instructors. 

Connie’s life was defined by her quiet determination and competence, and of course, George. In response to partner George's boundless optimism, Connie drafted the plans and herded all those that needed herding down the merry path to completion. Whether learning to ski, building a house in the midst of the school year and football season with George while very pregnant, re-tooling to pursue a second career in tax law, or retiring to Montana after more than 60 years in Ohio, Connie saw things through. In retirement, Connie and George traveled extensively around the country in their Airstream (with their cats), collecting memories and friendships with the miles. But despite her love for adventure, Connie treasured her peace and quiet. Throughout her life, Connie’s happy place when the chores were done was a comfy chair, a newspaper with a pen for the crossword or a good book in her hands, and a content, loveable cat on her lap--and maybe an old-fashioned by the reading lamp with an extra cherry.

Connie and George continued to garden and ski into their 80’s, helping usher in the next generation's skiers by making Big Mountain more accessible through generous hosting and fine meals. With George’s enthusiasm for long rows of veggies and Connie’s talent for keeping both the vegetables and George in line, they also organized Kalispell's Community Garden–growing and donating thousands of pounds of produce each year for the Food Bank, and helping distribute through Meals on Wheels.

Connie spent her final years in the Seattle area, gracefully living with both Alzheimer's disease and Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Highlights included hot air balloon rides and Sunday dinners with Gretchen and Paul, often joined by grandsons Luke and Kirby. The slow decline of her beautiful mind was heart-wrenching to watch over the more than 15 years that she suffered from Alzheimer's hold; yet, somehow, Connie maintained her love of reading, crossword puzzles, and spelling things aloud--all while maintaining a sense of forgiveness and calm grace despite her own losses--a profound gift. George, along with a host of kind and loving caregivers, including Maureen Bauman, supported Connie with extraordinary compassion over the last years of their lives.

Connie was preceded in death by her gregarious and fun-loving husband George (2022) and her brother Sonny (Harland) Fogle (2020). She is survived by her brothers Dana (Alice) and Doug (Claudia), sister-in-law Merrie Helyn and her children Matthew (Cari Lynn), Gretchen (Paul Wetherbee), and Carl (Romy). She is also survived by her six grandchildren – Annabelle, Joseph, Rosamond, Luke, Kirby, and Sam - along with extended family and many friends around the country who cherished her.

A private service will be held to honor both Connie and George, with memorial runs down Inspiration and Momentum on Big Mountain with family from WA, NV, NM, FL, OH and AZ in attendance.

Remembrances may be made in Connie’s memory to support Alzheimer’s research. Do a crossword puzzle in ink or read a good book. Plant some tomatoes and zucchini or make some bread and butter pickles for George. Or take a glorious run on corduroy snow on a blue sky day for the two of them.

They will be deeply missed.

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