Bella Marie Gardner Betson, 90, "went to be with her Lord and Savior" on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a short period of illness.

Bella was born Aug. 17, 1916, in a small township called Blooming Prairie, N.D., to George and Anna Fleck. She went to school at Crosby Elementary and went as far as the eighth grade. She had 15 siblings and grew up on the farm her parents owned near Crosby, N.D.

She married Albert Gardner in 1935 in Crosby. Albert and Bella moved to Shelby in 1938 and owned an older two-story home, later moving to Columbia Falls in the fall of 1948. She married Jerry Betson in 1976 in Columbia Falls. She lived in Columbia Falls until the time of her passing.

Over the years she attended St. Richard's Parish, and her life touched many people, and had a great influence on her four sons. One of her greatest interests was growing flowers (many varieties) for her church and placing them around the parish; she also loved to dance. She very seldom missed going to Sunday Mass, as well as saying her rosary; she was a firm believer in the Catholic faith and its teachings!

When asked to volunteer on any situation that might occur in the church, she was always there to lend a helping hand, as well as elsewhere. She seemed to never "run out of steam" so to speak!

She had 10 grandchildren as well as 10 great-grandchildren, and deeply loved them all. They in turn loved being around her because she made the best cookies.

Bella was preceded in death by her parents, and husbands Albert T. Gardner and Jerry Betson; and daughter-in-law, Darlene Gardner.

She is survived by her sons, Alfred Gardner of Columbia Falls, Ted and Veronica Gardner of Libby, Emil and Bobbi Gardner of Cloverdale, Calif., and Duywayne and Janine Gardner of Columbia Falls; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, brother, Clarence and Marlene Fleck of Edmonds, Okla.; brother, Billy Fleck and wife of Douglas, Wyo., sister Beatrice Chapman, of Mitchell, Neb., and sister Agnes Rayda, of Laramie, Wyo.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews too many to mention.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, and a rosary at 7 p.m. at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, with the Rev. John Miller officiating. Burial will follow at St. Richard's Catholic Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

"Bella will be remembered for her selfless service to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary, family and friends."