Brenda Wares

Brenda Lou Wares, 70 years old, passed away on Friday, July 27, 2012 from natural causes in Manhattan, Montana. She was formerly from Livingston, Montana. She was born September 4, 1941 in Traverse City, Michigan to Theron Donald Wares and Haroldene Frances Wagner. Brenda moved at age 15 to Mount Pleasant, Michigan where she graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1959. She was president of the Tri-Hi-Y-Organization in her senior year and completed one and half years at Central Michigan College (University). She received a degree in Biological Psychology at the University of Colorado and then a Master’s Degree in counseling at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Brenda had a private practice for ten years in California as a Nutritional Consultant and Metabolic Technician under William Donald Kelley working with clients having degenerative diseases. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) she worked first for Mental Health Organizations and then had a private practice counseling individuals, groups, and families in the Belgrade, Bozeman, and Livingston areas. Trained in the Homebuilder’s Model out of the Behavioral Science Institute in Seattle, she helped introduce the Family Based Services Model of counseling in Northern Montana. Taking a nonjudgmental attitude toward clients and a belief that they are doing the best they can with what they have and what they know, she was usually well received by clients but often conflicted with agencies and state organizations. Always a very spiritual person, in her later years she joined the Catholic Church where she served on the Parish Council. At age 14, Brenda had a near death experience which she professed to have influenced her life’s directions. This took away all fear of death and led to some supernatural sensitivity. Brenda struggled with health issues her entire life, precipitated by excessive radiation administered at the Mayo Clinic when she was four. In marriage she gave birth to one child, Michael Cole Libster. In addition to her son Michael (Kara), she is survived by her mother, Haroldene Frances Wagner of St. Petersburg, Florida; a brother, Craig Theron Wares of Traverse City, Michigan; and a sister, Cherrie Lynn Robinson of Madeira Beach, Florida. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Jessica Clare (Chris) Thompson of Honolulu, Hawaii, Christian Michael Libster of Bozeman, Montana, Angelis Libster of Bozeman, Montana, Mason Messner of Kronenwetter, Wisconsin, and Samantha Elaine Libster of Bozeman, Montana. She was preceded in death by her father, Theron “Moose” Donald Wares, a “legend of his time” as an unbeatable boat racer in Northern Michigan in the late 40’s and 50’s. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 7:30 pm at the Parkhaven Retirement Community, 1B Darby Way, Manhattan, MT 59741. For more information, call Michael Libster at (406) 579-2909, or Antonia Johnson at (406) 333-4577.