Mary Kathryn Bradley

Mary Kathryn “Kathy” Bradley, 74, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 2, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Kathy was born on May 27, 1952, to Chris and Adelyne Froehlich. She grew up in Montana, attending schools in Livingston and Missoula before earning bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Montana.

After college, Kathy spent a short time working in Seattle before returning to Montana to pursue her love of writing and reporting. She served as editor of the Shelby Promoter for more than seven years and later worked for the Bozeman Chronicle. A gifted writer and storyteller, she had a knack for finding the heart of a story and preserving moments that mattered.

It was during those years that she met and married Bruce Bradley. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and the Montana land they loved.

Throughout her life, Kathy wore many hats—journalist, photographer, farm wife, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She worked as a photographer and writer for the Western Breeze in Cut Bank for many years and later served as a paraprofessional in the Cut Bank School District for more than twenty years before retiring.

While she enjoyed her many careers, Kathy’s greatest joy was always her family.

She found beauty in both grand adventures and simple moments. She loved the mountains, huckleberry picking, quilting, campfires with family and friends, a good murder mystery, and fellowship with her church family. She shared a lifelong love of classic black-and-white movies with her children, especially The Thin Man films, which became family favorites.

Kathy was a talented photographer and journalist whose camera and dictionary often accompanied her wherever she went, even hiking in Glacier Park. She had an eye for details others overlooked and a gift for preserving memories that would otherwise have faded with time. Her love of photography and storytelling continues through those she inspired.

She also enjoyed a good beer and never passed up the opportunity to lovingly disagree with Bruce about which kind was best. As a lifelong barley farmer, Bruce firmly believed the finest beer came from barley. Kathy often preferred wheat beers. Their playful debate continued for decades and became one of the many small traditions that reflected the affection, humor, and friendship at the heart of their marriage.

In the early years of their marriage, Kathy also discovered that Bruce’s directions rarely included road names. He navigated by landmarks, fields, and local knowledge that made perfect sense to him and almost none to her. She quickly learned she would have to translate his directions into something useful, a family joke that endured through the years.

Of all the titles she carried, her favorite was “Nana.”

Her grandchildren were the pride and joy of her life. She celebrated their accomplishments, listened to their stories, laughed with them often, and treasured every opportunity to make memories with them. Even during her most difficult days, her thoughts remained fixed on the people she loved most.

Kathy’s faith in Jesus Christ sustained her through every season of life. It guided her decisions, strengthened her through challenges, and gave her peace in her final days. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, perseverance, compassion, humor, creativity, and unwavering love for her family.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Bruce Bradley; her children, Kerwin (Nichole) Bradley, Amber (Adam) Christopher, Konrad (Ivana) Bradley, and Allison (Tysen) Tuma; and her cherished grandchildren Emma, Noah, Juliana, Emilia, Billie Jo, Hattie, and Trace.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Adelyne Froehlich; her brother, Fred Froehlich; and her sister, Deloris.

A memorial service will be held in August at Cut Bank Community Bible Church, followed by a family service in Essex at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls.