Christean Ratliff Mahlum

Christean Ratliff Mahlum

Christean Ratliff Mahlum, 82, of Havre, Mont., passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at Northern Montana Hospital following a valiant battle with COPD.

A Celebration of Life service is tentatively planned on her birthday, June 28.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the American Lung Association, the First Presbyterian Church of Havre or your local animal shelter.

Chris was born in Knightstown, Ind., on June 28, 1928, to Wesley and Ruth Ratliff. She graduated from high school in Knightstown in 1946. She attended Ball State University before marrying Byron Huber and having her two daughters.

In 1962, she married Don Mahlum and they remained married until her death. They were married for 48 happy years.

Chris's early working years were spent at the Henry County Courthouse. Upon moving to Montana in 1962, Chris worked as assistant registrar at Northern Montana College. She later moved to Bozeman and was assistant registrar at MSU.

She moved to Washington and continued her career in education as registrar at South Puget Sound Community College. She moved from an administrative position to the classroom, retiring as the head of the English Department from Tumwater High School. Chris obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in education from Northern Montana College and her master's in counseling from Pacific Lutheran University.

Throughout their lives, Chris and Don enjoyed boating on the Puget Sound and traveling in their motorhome to Cannon Beach, Ore.

She was a charter member of the West Bay Boat Club. In her retirement, she enjoyed volunteer work at the hospital and for the care center. She was active in the Presbyterian Church and was an active member of the Blue Horizons. She loved feeing and watching the birds and squirrels from her living room window. She played bridge regularly at the senior citizen center and enjoyed playing pinochle online. She also liked to spend afternoons in the Bear's Paw Mountains with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Wesley W. Ratliff.

Chris is survived by her husband, Don Mahlum of Havre; daughters, Cyndi (David) Leeds of Havre, and Sally (Floyd) Fuhrman of Opheim; grandchildren, Kyle Leeds, Andera Leeds (Jeff Knight), Joel (Laura) Fuhrman and Alison Barnard; and great-grandchildren, Tristin Barnard, Owen Fuhrman and Lukas Leeds Knight.

Christean Ratliff Mahlum, 82, of Havre, Mont., passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at Northern Montana Hospital following a valiant battle with COPD.

A Celebration of Life service is tentatively planned on her birthday, June 28.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the American Lung Association, the First Presbyterian Church of Havre or your local animal shelter.

Chris was born in Knightstown, Ind., on June 28, 1928, to Wesley and Ruth Ratliff. She graduated from high school in Knightstown in 1946. She attended Ball State University before marrying Byron Huber and having her two daughters.

In 1962, she married Don Mahlum and they remained married until her death. They were married for 48 happy years.

Chris's early working years were spent at the Henry County Courthouse. Upon moving to Montana in 1962, Chris worked as assistant registrar at Northern Montana College. She later moved to Bozeman and was assistant registrar at MSU.

She moved to Washington and continued her career in education as registrar at South Puget Sound Community College. She moved from an administrative position to the classroom, retiring as the head of the English Department from Tumwater High School. Chris obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in education from Northern Montana College and her master's in counseling from Pacific Lutheran University.

Throughout their lives, Chris and Don enjoyed boating on the Puget Sound and traveling in their motorhome to Cannon Beach, Ore.

She was a charter member of the West Bay Boat Club. In her retirement, she enjoyed volunteer work at the hospital and for the care center. She was active in the Presbyterian Church and was an active member of the Blue Horizons. She loved feeing and watching the birds and squirrels from her living room window. She played bridge regularly at the senior citizen center and enjoyed playing pinochle online. She also liked to spend afternoons in the Bear's Paw Mountains with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Wesley W. Ratliff.

Chris is survived by her husband, Don Mahlum of Havre; daughters, Cyndi (David) Leeds of Havre, and Sally (Floyd) Fuhrman of Opheim; grandchildren, Kyle Leeds, Andera Leeds (Jeff Knight), Joel (Laura) Fuhrman and Alison Barnard; and great-grandchildren, Tristin Barnard, Owen Fuhrman and Lukas Leeds Knight.