Georgia Ruth (Tuss) Otten, 83

Georgia Ruth (Tuss) Otten, 83, died of congestive heart failure Feb. 20, 2007, at Roo-Lan Healthcare Center in Lacey, Wash.

Georgia was born Sept. 8, 1923, in Winnett to Peter F. and Katherine (Martincich) Tuss. She grew up in Lewistown. She graduated from Fergus County High School in 1941. She married John F. Otten on his 24th birthday, Oct. 4, 1941.

Georgia worked at several jobs in her adult life. She was a clerk at JC Penney in Kalispell, a clerk at a shoe store in Libby, and a bookkeeper at Montgomery Ward in Kalispell until it closed. She then was a home companion until she retired.

She was very involved at St. Matthew's Catholic Church. She belonged to the Daughters of Isabella group, Council of Catholic Women and was active in Church Women United. She loved her church family at St. Matthew's and spoken often of them with deep regard. Georgia and John counted the offering several times a year on Mondays at St. Matthew's. They could be counted on to do whatever was asked of them.

Georgia and John were also avid bowlers and bowled until their bodies no longer allowed it. They loved baseball. Georgia attended all of her son's games. The whole family was involved with Little League and Legion ball, first in Libby and then in Kalispell. She was very proud of her children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, John; a son, P.J. Otten; a daughter, Gina Eskew; and grandsons, Jeffrey Otten and T.J. Eskew. She was also preceded in death by four half-sisters, Mary, Helen, Shonny and Louise; two sisters, Betty and Jerry; and two brothers, Frank and Pete.

Georgia is survived by her daughter, Rebecca, and Phil Wiebe; sons, Jim and Jill, and Michael and Kelli Otten; her sister, Jean Purdom, of Bend, Ore.; half-sister, Anne Smith, of Lewistown; one grandson; seven granddaughters; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. March 10 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church with interment afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held at the church after interment.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Matthew's Parish, 602 S. Main, Kalispell, MT 59901, payable to St. Matthew's School.