FRANCES WINTER obituary

SHELBY - Frances L. "Fritz" Winter, 69, of Shelby, a past business owner and receptionist, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2003, at a Shelby medical center due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis.

Visitation is from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. A funeral service is set for noon Saturday at the Community United Methodist

Church, with burial to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Dale Hoiby; sister, Patricia Lund; son, Rodney A. Winter; and grandson, Max Winter.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Allen Winter of Shelby; daughters, Darby K. (Jerry) McDermott, of Craig, Colo., and Debra A. (Jim) Anderson of Shelby; son, Randy E. (Julie) Winter of Twin Falls, Idaho; brother, James H. Smith of Glendale, Ariz.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Fritz was born March 2, 1934, in Malta to Horace and Martha (Sullivan) Smith. She was raised in Malta and graduated from high school in Malta in 1952.

She moved to Havre and worked as a receptionist at the Havre Medical Clinic, where she met Allen Winter. They were married on Oct. 18, 1953, in Malta. In 1971 the couple moved from Havre to Shelby, where they owned and operated Brown's Hardware Hank's Store. After seven years, they sold the business and Fritz went to work for Dr. Mac Johnson as his receptionist for the next 20 years. She retired in 2000.

Fritz was active in the Back Country Horseman Club, Shelby Saddle Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and was a 4-H leader. She enjoyed horseback pack trips, Arabian horse shows, watching John Wayne movies, playing the banjo, spending time with her family, and watching her grandchildren grow up.

Fritz should be remembered for her courageous battle with rheumatoid arthritis that she endured for so many years.

Memorials may be given either to the church or to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Fund.