Anna Mae (Torbergson) Bexell, 79, passed away peacefully after a long, courageous battle with lung disease on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

Anna was born Aug. 23, 1926, in Somers and spent her childhood and most of her adult life in the beautiful Flathead Valley.

She graduated from Flathead High and worked in the shipyards in Seattle during the war. When she returned to Kalispell, she met Kermit Bexell and they married on Feb. 9, 1947. She and Kirk and their growing family lived in both Spokane and Somers, where she worked at Somers school for a number of years.

She loved to garden and was a wonderful cook, but the job she thought most important was being a mom and grandmother; even to kids who weren't her own. She had a witty sense of humor and even in the pain of her last days was concerned about the feelings of others and still tried to make people laugh. She was a caring and generous person who will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Kermit Bexell; her parents, Peter and Merle Torbergson; one daughter, Carrie; and two granddaughters, Melissa and Monica.

She is survived by her brothers, Alfred Torbergson of Somers, and Fred Torbergson of Sheridan, Wyo.; her children and their spouses, Randy Bexell of Lacey, Wash., Bruce and Chris Bexell of Yelm, Wash., Becky and Lyle Wagoner of Kalispell, Kevin and Nona Bexell of Jacksonville, N.C., Jennifer and Jim Sorensen of Burnsville, Minn., and Michelle and Tim Murphy of Kalispell; grandchildren, Kimberly, Matthew, Tiffany, Angela, Samantha, Amanda, Heather, Sabrina, Jessica, Kirstin, Darren, Zachary, Laura, Michael, Whitney, Kurtis, Anika and Alex; and great-grandchildren, Tristan, Reagan, Grant, Kayli, Kaleb, Gavin, Morgan, Nathan, Brandon, Ashlyn, Jaydin, Clyde and Evan.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 14, at the Church of Christ on Stillwater Road in Kalispell. Internment will be at a later date.

Memorials are preferred to Lifeline of Hope International Orphan Aid, 135 Kelley Road, Kalispell, MT.