Remina 'Tiny' Kelch, 90,

Remina "Tiny" Kelch, 90, passed away on Aug. 16, 2006, in the Immanuel Lutheran Home where she has been for the past two years.

Tiny was born Sept. 24, 1915, in Leadville, Colo., to Elizabeth (Boland) Dalrymple and Seymour Dalrymple. She moved with her family to Butte at an early age and then to Murry, Idaho.

She married Al Shira on Feb. 28, 1937, and lived in Burke, Idaho. They moved to Portland during the war and worked in the shipyards. They returned to Butte and managed an apartment building and then moved to Divide.

Later they operated motels in Sparks, Nev., and South Gate, Calif. Returning to Montana, they operated a trailer court in Columbia Falls.

Al drowned in the Hungry Horse reservoir in 1965 and his body was never recovered.

In 1972, Tiny married Everett Kelch and they made their home in Whitefish. With this marriage Tiny acquired five children and 12 grandchildren. Everett was inspired to write a book of poetry, with Tiny's help. He wrote several and they were known for their crafts and books at the Farmer's Market and Whitefish Huckleberry Days. Tiny and Everett traveled to many crafts shows and poetry events in Montana, Idaho and in Canada. They also traveled to Idaho often to see Tiny's sisters and nieces and nephews.

Tiny's and Everett's home was always open to friends and family, from the Winter Carnival to the late night card playing. Tiny was always with a smile and a happy-go-lucky nature, even though she was small in size she had a heart of gold. People would go to the crafts shows and say they had to hug Tiny for good luck.

"Tiny was wonderful to Everett and all of us, for that we all will be forever grateful."

Tiny loved dancing and they danced at the Moose in Whitefish. She also made a lot of beautiful crocheted items. Tiny and Everett picked huckleberries and had a wonderful garden. She would make things for the art and crafts shows.

Tiny was preceded in death by her husband Everett on Feb. 8, 2001; and by her sisters, Elizabeth Gray, Dorothy Hansen, Marguerite Solum; and by one grandson, Jason Madsen.

She is survived by her nephews, Herb Solum of Kellogg, Idaho, Bill Solum of Rathdrum Idaho, and Lee Taylor of Garfield, Wash.; and nieces, Shirley Vaughn of Portland, Dorothy Caron of Wallace, Idaho, and June Gilseth of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and a special cousin, Maynard McPhee of Ovando. Tiny is also survived by her children, Larry "Dean" and Evelyn Kelch of Polson, and Ellen Creighton, Lloyd and Marcia Kelch, Sherry and Gerald Madsen, and Robert Kelch, all of Kalispell; along with 19 grandkids and 43 great-grandkids and five great-great-grandkids.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Glacier Memorial Gardens, with a lunch to follow at the Moose in Whitefish where Tiny and Everett were members for many years.