Mary Magdalen Kalla Nathe, 97

Mary Magdalen Kalla Nathe, 97, of Kalispell died peacefully, surrounded by her family on April 24, 2005, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Magdalen was born on Oct. 28, 1907, in Albany, Minn., to Jacob and Barbara Kalla. She was the fifth of 10 children and grew up on the family farm. It was there that she developed her lifelong love of the outdoors, which she passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She met Alphonse Nathe in Sauk Centre, Minn., while working at The Palmer House Restaurant where she "waited on tables and cleaned celery." They loved dancing and many of their early dates were spent on the dance floors around Sauk Centre. "Al" always told her, "The waltzes are for me, Magdalen." Magdalen fell in love with his sophistication and charm and they were married on Aug. 21, 1928, in Albany. Their first child, Geraldine, was born in Sauk Centre in 1929 where Al worked for The Standard Oil Co.

In 1930, the family moved to Balsam Lake, Wis., and Al bought a Standard Oil filling station. While living in Balsam Lake they were blessed with two more children, Lois and David.

The Nathes moved to Kalispell in 1951 after Al suffered his first heart attack. He was employed at the old Kalispell Mercantile (KM) as a bookkeeper. The Montana lifestyle suited the family well, but particularly Magdalen who reveled in the wild weather and rugged extremes of the Rocky Mountains.

For almost 20 years, Magdalen and Al enjoyed working in the yard together, tending their vegetables and flowers, rejoicing in the winter snow, and loving their grandchildren and each other until his death on Oct. 4, 1969.

"Gram" as all knew her, took on her new life alone with the grace and poise that defined her life. In an era when women'd5s equality became the banner for a younger generation, Gram exemplified the qualities of a true lady while asserting her independence as a woman of the times.

A full life is not without tragedy and Gram'd5s was no exception. In addition to widowhood, she lost two of her children, Geraldine Holbrook and David Nathe, and daughter in-law, Betty Nathe, to cancer, and a granddaughter, Janet Nathe, to an automobile accident. She also withstood the deaths of uncountable dear friends and neighbors, as one would expect in a life of 97 years. Religious devotion and acceptance of God'd5s will enabled her to endure these misfortunes and to move forward with assurance. Gram'd5s simple saying, "It could be worse," exemplified her faith in God'd5s larger plan.

She was an active and devout member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church where she participated in the quilting group and the Council of Catholic Women as well as donating and serving many funeral luncheons.

Beyond her religion, she attributed her longevity to fresh air, daily yard work, walking and an active family life. She kept her mind sharp through her love of card games such as solitaire and bridge and belonged to a ladies bridge club for many years. An avid Scrabble player, she could still beat her grandchildren at 97!

Quilting was another passion that consumed her for as many years as her arthritic hands could tolerate. Each of her three children, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren were given these beautiful handmade treasures to warm and comfort them.

A visit to Gram'd5s house made one feel special and welcome and included a wonderful home-baked treat such as a cinnamon roll, a brownie (the "Killer Bees") or a cookie. In later years, as her stamina waned, she always remembered to offer a piece of candy from her green candy dish.

Gram never met an ice cream cone that she didn'd5t like or a strawberry milkshake that she couldn'd5t drink, including one on the day she died. Her family will cherish their memories of hot dog roasts in her backyard and tea parties at her house as young children.

Though Gram probably never heard the term "unconditional love," it flowed from her like a favorite song and we were warmed by it over and over. When it came to laughter, she had little competition in either frequency or volume, and all semblance of the lady in her flew out the window when she cut loose with a hearty roar of laughter that could shake the walls.

Gram had unwavering pride in her appearance, looked for good in everything and everyone, and sacrificed for others joyfully. A doctor could ask for no better patient than Gram. She worked steadfastly to live a healthy life and never wavered in her belief that when she had completed her life'd5s work, the Lord would take her to her final reward.

She was an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. We miss Gram and the work she did on this earth and we will smile and cry and laugh when we think of her.

She is survived by her sister, Rosella Bowman and husband, Bob, of Lewistown; daughter, Lois Hammett and husband, John, of Kalispell; son-in-law, Leon Holbrook, of St. Cloud, Minn.; grandchildren Tom Holbrook and wife, Lynn, of Brainerd, Minn., Tim Holbrook and wife, Aleta, of St. Cloud, Minn., Sara Strandberg and husband, Kurt, of Princeton, Minn., Steve Holbrook and wife, Stacy, of St. Cloud, Kelly Nathe and wife, Tammy, of Great Falls, Mark Nathe and wife, Sheila, of Helena, Jeffrey Hammett and wife, Stephanie, Michael Hammett and wife, Jan, and Richard Hammett and wife, Bonnie, all of Kalispell; Matthew Hammett and wife, Stephanie, of Creston, Lisa McKeon and husband, Brian, of West Glacier, and Jane Hammett and fianc'8e, Rod O'd5Gorman, of Missoula. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Daniel Matthew and Josh Holbrook of Brainerd, Minn., Michael Blake and David Holbrook of St. Cloud, Minn., Eric and Jennifer Strandberg of Princeton, Minn., Kody and Kyler Nathe of Great Falls, Michael and Logan Nathe of Helena, Sammie and Danielle Hammett, Jonathan and Hailey Hammett, and Emily and David Hammett, all of Kalispell, Madison Hammett of Creston, Magdalena and Eloise McKeon of West Glacier; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Barbara Brandenburg of Billings and Bruce Bowman of Lewistown.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 28, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church with the Rev. Vic Langhans as celebrant. A rosary service will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with a visitation from 1 p.m. until the time of the rosary service at the funeral home. There will be a private committal at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Matthew's FACE Foundation or the charity of your choice.

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