Venita B. Nelson, 89, "went home to be with our Lord and Savior" on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, of natural causes at Brendan House in Kalispell.

She was born on Feb. 25, 1917, at Moore, the daughter of Emil and Avis (Carse) Havlik. She was raised in Roundup, and graduated from high school in Missoula, in 1935.

On Aug. 15, 1939, she married Philip Nelson in Billings. They had two children, Gerald and Linda. They moved to Kalispell, in 1943.

She worked for Flathead National Forest from 1945 until 1967. After the death of her husband in 1979, she volunteered at Peterson School until 2005.

Venita had a love for children and loved to work with flowers and had a green thumb. "A big thank you to Colonial Manor and Brendan House for taking such great care of Venita."

Venita was preceded in death by her husband, Philip Nelson; son, Jerry Nelson; grandson, Glen Grob; and granddaughter, Tina Clarke.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Rickard and husband, Jack, of Kalispell; granddaughters, Chellie Hrabik, Lindy Rutledge and husband, Steve, all of Kalispell, Jackie Ashcraft and husband, Kelly, of Clovis, N.M., Joan Kuemmerle and husband, Bill, of Peyton, Colo.; grandsons, Kirk Grob of Kalispell, and John Nelson and wife, Heidi, of Pasco, Wash.; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Venita will be held 2 p.m. Monday, July 12, at Epworth United Methodist Church with Pastor Ray Davis officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial will be private by the family.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Venita's family.