Aletha ‘Mae’ Moore, 77

Aletha “Mae” Moore, 77, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side after enduring a long battle with Corticobasal Degenerative Disease (CBD) on December 25, 2025. She was born on Feb. 6, 1948 to James and Ida Moore. Mae lived her entire life in the Flathead Valley where she raised two sons, Kipper and Corey Knote. She had an entrepreneurial spirit which led her to buy the Shortbranch Lounge in 1985, and later Van Allen Tax Service Inc in Columbia Falls. 

Through these businesses she developed countless friendships and deep connections with the people she served. Mae accepted everyone for who they were and treated everyone as if they were family. She had a passion to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, especially young adults trying to find their way in life. Her boys would come home from school for the summer and find they didn’t have a room to stay in as Mae had given them away to one of the nieces or friends’ kid that was needing a place to get their feet under them.

She loved entertaining her family and friends, everyone was always welcome at her house, including dogs. 

Kids and dogs got the run of her house, she absolutely loved seeing the kids and dogs get wound up; she might have instigated a few of them getting in trouble with their parents a time or two. Mae loved life and always had time for you during the off season. If you stopped by her house you were going to drink, eat and be happy!

Mae was preceded in death by her parents, James and Ida Moore, sister Darlene and brother Leland. 

Mae is survived by Marc Johnson, her long-time companion and caregiver, two sons Kipper and Cory Knote; Kipper’s spouse Arlene Anderson, their daughters Addison and Lizzy; Cory’s spouse Traci Knote and their daughters Staci, Megan and Emma, and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Betty Bertelsen (Roger), Pearl Carstens (Tom), Myrna Wade (Mike) and Sadie Stowell (Bob), her brothers Lyle (Elaine), Ordean, Donald (Francis), Jerome Moore, and sister-in-law Darlene Moore, as well as many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

Mae will be forever remembered for her big heart, love of life, family and friends.

A celebration of Mae’s life is being planned for late Spring 2026, and details will be posted as they are finalized