Elizabeth 'Beth' Ann Timm Christian, 77

Elizabeth "Beth" Ann Timm Christian, 77, was born on May 30, 1947, in Casper, Wyoming, and added a sparkle of class and culture to her world. She passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 18, 2025, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer.

Beth's middle name came from her Grandmother Anne Rigal. Her grandmother's husband, Herman Rigal, was a German immigrant and master machinist who escaped Nazi Germany. Beth's parents were Marie Lee (Rigal), a clothing designer and seamstress, and Lt. Phillip Edward Timm, a pilot and aircraft mechanic who managed the Polson Airport for over 30 years. Her brother was Col. Glenn Lee Timm, who flew reconnaissance missions over Vietnam.

Dance and the arts were Beth's lifelong passions. She began dancing at age 4 in Casper, studying under former American Ballet Company dancers. Her mother designed and made costumes for recitals. The family moved to Polson in 1956, where her father operated the airport. This enabled Beth to earn private pilot certifications for both land and seaplanes while still in high school.

After graduating from the University of Montana, Beth began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Sand Springs, Montana, teaching all eight grades. She later taught at Polson Middle School as a chapter 1 reading and math teacher before becoming a sixth-grade social studies and English teacher. She retired from Polson with 33 years of experience but continued teaching in Las Vegas for another 10 years. After returning to Polson, she worked as a paraprofessional in the high school special education department until her death.

While singing with the Mission Valley Choral Society, Beth met and married its director, Byron Christian, who was her best friend and the "love of her life." Byron, who predeceased her, was her traveling companion, music director, pianist, and faith partner.

Beth was an animal lover who rescued greyhounds and enjoyed showing her dogs, including Czar the Borzoi and Austin-Healey the Whippet. She also raised canaries and maintained freshwater aquariums. When not dancing or singing, Beth enjoyed drawing and painting portraits of her pets and later wrote a romance novel. 

She is survived by her beloved dogs, Austin, Lilac and Sweet Pea.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on March 8, at the Polson Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church, greyhound rescue organizations or the Polson School District arts programs.