Margaret Pahl, 96

Margaret Pahl, age 96, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at Brendan House in Kalispell, Montana.

She was born on May 19, 1909, in Kennedy Township, North Dakota, the daughter of Phillip and Regina (Brinster) Urlacher, where she grew up on the family farm.

In 1929 she married Carl Gartner. They lived on a farm four miles west of New England, N.D. To this union eight children were born. When Carl died in 1944, Margaret and her children moved into New England where they lived until her marriage to Jim Holtzer in 1946. To this union one daughter Edie was born. They then moved to a farm 17 miles south of New England and remained there until moving to Missoula. Jim died in 1963 and in 1969 she married Adolph Pahl. They continued to make their home in Missoula. After Adolph's death, Margaret made her home with three of her daughters until becoming a resident of Brendan House in Kalispell in May 2005.

Although Margaret was 96 at the time of her death, her mind was still very active. She worked hard all of her life but still found time to enjoy music, dancing, cooking and especially growing and tending her rose garden. Her greatest joy, however, was her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Through all of her trials she always trusted in the Lord to get her through. One of her passions in life was making quilts and giving them to the poor and homeless at the Paverillo Center in Missoula.

She is survived by her children, Raymond and Rosie Gartner, Arnold and Arlene Gartner, and Carl and Edie Gartner, all of Seattle, Reggie Gentz of New England, Catherine Jacobs of Missoula, Adzie and Will Schmaltz of Mobridge, S.D., and Edie and Ernie Hey of Kalispell; a son-in-law, Archie Jalbert of Dickinson, N.D.; also surviving are 43 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ida Messer of Richardton, N.D.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; two daughters, Mary Schatz and Leona Jalbert; four grandchildren; and 10 brothers and sisters.

Mass of Christian burial for Margaret Pahl will be held 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New England, N.D.

Rosary will be at 10 a.m. at the church. Urn burial will follow mass at St.

Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

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