Bette Mahala (Hagerman) Huggins, 77, passed away of a stroke Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. She was born March 16, 1931, in Verndale, Minn., to Percy and Marion (McKnight) Hagerman. She was one of six children.

After a short time in Michigan, the family moved to Montana where she met and later married Bill Martin Huggins on Sept. 6, 1952. Tamie, their only child, was born Aug. 27, 1964. They were married for 48 years until his death on Sept. 19, 2000, because of cancer.

Bette was known for her "Ph.D." in pinochle and was ready to play "anytime, anywhere." She was a good cook, housewife and a great mom and an adored aunt by many nieces and nephews.

She also enjoyed gardening, flowers and shopping, lunches or dinners out. She enjoyed going with her sister Myra to the Seniors Center or to the Eagles Club. She and Bill were members there for more than 20 years. She was loved by all and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 2000; and her parents.

Bette is survived by her daughter, Tamie Schroeder, and husband, Tim, of Kalispell; four brothers, Donald Hagerman, Bill Hagerman and wife, Muriel, and Larry Hagerman and wife, Deanna, all of Kalispell, and Blair Hagerman and wife, Carolyn, of Idaho; one sister, Myra Finck, of Kalispell; two sisters-in-law, Iona Stidolph of Oregon, and Sharon Nyquist of Alaska; a brother-in-law, Don Huggins, of Polson; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Bette will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral chapel, with Pastor Tim Bartholomew officiating. Burial will be afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens. There is no visitation.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Bette's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Bette's guest book.