Beverly (Lehman) Schritz, 58

Beverly (Lehman) Schritz, 58, died Monday May 2, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, after her battle with cancer.

She was born Nov. 21, 1946, in Oregon City, Ore., to Jack and Eleanor (Oliver) Lehman.

Beverly graduated from Weber High School in Ogden, Utah, and attended some college classes in Ohio and Montana.

She lived in Ogden about one year after her marriage to Frank Schritz on Nov. 7, 1964.

They moved to Ohio and then to the Flathead, in 1988, where she has lived ever since.

She and her husband Frank were active members of the First Baptist Church in Columbia Falls. If Beverly were asked what was the most important event in her life she would probably give an answer something like this, "In about 1973, I heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached from God's Word, the Bible, and responded to it by admitting it was true that I was a sinner for whom Christ shed his precious blood, and by asking Him alone to be my Savior. I have since then had the privilege and blessing of serving the wonderful Creator of the universe in many ways, especially in teaching young people about the Lord and testifying of His love and mercy to all who would listen." She would also acknowledge as true for her, the Apostle Paul's statement that when the time came she would be "...willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." And that is where she is today.

Beverly enjoyed working in stained glass (both new projects and repairing old work, especially stained glass windows and lamp shades), hiking, cross country skiing, gardening, sewing, cooking and other crafts, and serving the Lord in Sunday school and church.

Beverly was preceded in death by one grandson, Cass Butcher.

She is survived by her husband, Frank Schritz of Kila; two sons, Bryan Schritz of Spencer, Ohio, and Stephen Schritz of Kalispell (Evergreen); three daughters, Jennifer Butcher of Grafton, Ohio, Sarah Hales of Elyria, Ohio, and Cynthia Schritz of Kila; seven grandchildren, and one on its way.

There will be a private graveside service for family only on Monday, May 9.

Memorials may be given to the Cass Butcher Memorial Trust Fund, c/o Abbe Road Baptist Church, 670 North Abbe Road, Elyria, OH 44035, or Youth Facility (Multi-Purpose Building Project), c/o First Baptist Church of Columbia Falls, 827 9th Street West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.

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