Mildred M. Fritz, 90

Mildred M. Fritz, 90, passed away Nov. 26, 2005.

Mildred was born in Galada on Oct. 26, 1915, to Helen and Oliver Provence. She was the eldest of five children. She completed her high-school education in Galada and went on to graduate in 1938 from Columbus Hospital, in Great Falls, as a registered nurse.

Mildred moved to the Flathead Valley area at that time where she held her first nursing job and met Wayne Fritz. Wayne and Mildred were married Sept. 9, 1939. They lived in the LaSalle area, where they farmed and had a dairy. They later moved to the Creston area to continue farming.

During that time, Mildred took a hiatus from nursing. She returned to work in 1954 at Kalispell General Hospital and moved to Kalispell Regional Hospital, where she worked until her retirement in 1985.

She continued to live in the Flathead area until September 2004, and at that time she moved to Las Vegas to be with her daughter.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, and her first great-grandchild, Tyler Fritz.

She is survived by her brothers, Phil and Emma Provence of Kalispell, Jack Provence of Sand Point, Idaho, Ralph Provence, and Allen and Donnie Provence, all of Martinsville, Calif. She has three children, daughter, Adeline and Jim Stotts of Henderson, Nev.; and sons, Duane Fritz of Sheridan, Ore., and Larry and Kathy Fritz of Missoula. She has four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Cremation was Mildred's wish, and a memorial service will be held during summer 2006.