Carol Ann Smithlin, 78

Carol Ann Smithlin, 78, "passed away peacefully" Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, with her family by her side. She was born Oct. 5, 1928, in Maiden Rock, Wis., to Carl and Frances Prichard.

The family moved when she was a young girl and settled in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she grew up with her three sisters until she met and married John L. Smithlin on Jan. 31, 1948. Together they made their home in Kalispell and raised five children.

Over the years, Carol and John worked side-by-side running Smitty's HiBoy and Smitty's Triple XXX restaurants, as well as Smitty's Beef Palace. Along with their business partners, Carol and John developed land in the Evergreen area into what is now Shopko, Perkins, Alltel, Staples, and Super 1 Foods.

She was the hardest-working woman her family ever knew. She grew up in a different time and was generous beyond belief.

"Waiting in heaven with open arms" will be her husband, John; her parents; her sister, Betty McKinney; and her grandson, Christopher Michael Cox.

She is survived by her two sisters, Ruth Nelson of Coeur d'Alene, and Lila Ferger and her husband, Bill, of Liberty Lake, Wash.; her five children, Caren Smithlin of Tacoma, Wash., Betty Cox and her husband, Phil, of Vancouver, Wash., Joanne Dickinson of Kalispell, Tom Smithlin and his wife, Debbie, of Kalispell, and Carl Smithlin and his wife, Susan, of Puyallup, Wash.; her 13 grandchildren, Shannon, Christie, Caren, Geoffrey, Natalie, Thomas, Jennifer, Robert, Josie, Stephanie, Alicia, Julia and Emily, and her five great-grandchildren, Christopher, Zachary, Angelo, Aidan and Abbie.

A Mass of Christian burial for Carol Ann Smithlin will he held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Risen Christ Catholic Church, with Father Rudolph Bullman celebrant.

Memorials may be sent to a charity of donor's choice.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for the family.