Anita Jeanne Mills, 98
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 3 weeks, 4 days AGO
Anita Jeanne Mills, 98, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 17, 2026, in Kalispell.
Anita was born on her family’s dairy farm in rural Wisconsin, the youngest of 13 children. She married her high school sweetheart, James "Jim" Daniel. As a Navy wife, she traveled for the first 22 years of their marriage and especially enjoyed their time in Puerto Rico. Upon Jim's retirement from the Navy, they settled in Phoenix. She loved volunteering at their local hospital for 27 years. Upon moving to Montana in 1998, she spent another 27 years volunteering in the North Valley Hospital Gift Shop. She was also a Whitefish Soroptimist for 20 years. She made many cherished friends along the way!
She loved to crochet, do needlework, play cards and other games. She also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and spent many happy hours doing her word searches. She never missed watching Wheel of Fortune and Lawrence Welk.
Anita spent most of her life caring for her family. She was an excellent cook and baker.
We will all miss her chocolate chip cookie dough and cinnamon rolls. Her husband, Jim, preceded her in death in 2018, just before their 72nd anniversary. Anita is survived by her children, Russ (Michelle) Mills in Woodland, California; Larry (Claudette) Mills in Denver; Greg (Jennifer) Mills in Scottsdale, Arizona; Rayne Beach (Randy); and Jeanne Baker (Chuck) in Whitefish. She had 14 grandchildren and 8 ½ great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly.
Many thanks to her physician, Dr. Jeremy Jennings, for guiding her through her last years. Anita had lived on the Beach farm but recently moved to Immanuel Terraces.
Although she was only there for a short time, she really enjoyed her new community, taking part in activities, and gathering new friends.
Her funeral mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31 at Risen Christ Catholic Church, followed by a reception at the Beach home. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, right next to her Jim. Memorials can be made to Immanuel Living at ImmanuelFoundation.org.
