ELIZABETH KINSELLA obituary

Elizabeth "Bette" Kinsella, 90, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2004.

A prayer vigil to celebrate Bette's life will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Havre.

Bette was born on March 29, 1914, in Geyser to Thomas and Sanna Luoma. She attended school in Geyser and graduated as the class salutatorian. Following high school, Bette enrolled at Western Montana College. She graduated with a degree in elementary education. While in college, Bette worked summers in Yellowstone National Park. Her teaching career began at the Lone Tree School near Judith Gap and led her to the Faber School, south of Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains.

In those mountains, Bette met the love of her life, Joe Kinsella, a rancher who lived down the road from the school. They married on Aug. 31, 1940, and enjoyed 63 years of ranching together.

Bette's friends and family will remember her best for her love of family, education, fashion, visiting friends of all ages, and dancing with Joe.

Bette was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, in May 2004; great-granddaughter, Neely Sue Kinsella; sisters, Sally (Gus) Pistoria, Gladys (Bill) Croff, Alvina (Paul) Faber, and Kay (Walter) Backa; and brothers, Art (Olive), John (Theresa), and Waino Luoma.

Survivors include her daughters; Patricia Holman and Lois Frerck; sons, Gerald (Laura Keller), Ronald, Robert (Sanda Bitz) and Larry (Judy Kallenberger); 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; twin sister, Anne (Don) Houston of Great Falls; sisters, Lillian (Floyd) Von Stein of Cascade, Vaitlena "Shonnie" (Henry) Rautio of Spokane, Wash., and Elsie (Dale) Backa of Geyser; brother, David (Dorla) Luoma of Geyser; and sister-in-law, Theresa Luoma of Great Falls.

The family suggests memorials to the Rocky Boy Catholic Church, the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, or a charity of one's choice.