Heidy Switzer, 70

After living successfully with cancer for more than four years, Heidy Switzer's life ended peacefully at her home on the Ridin'P Ranch on Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, after happy visits with her husband, daughters Grace, Sonja and Audrey, son, Martin, Mike's sons, Mike Jr., and Bill, and many of her well-loved friends.

Heidy is survived by her beloved husband, Michael Switzer; her brother, Jurg, and his children in Switzerland; her sister, Suzi, and her children in Switzerland; and the families Moser in Switzerland, especially Marlys, whom she loved as a sister and had been friends with since childhood.

Heidy also leaves behind her children, Grace Frankforter and son, Joey; daughter Sonja O'Brein and her husband, Sean, and granddaughters, Casandra Pelech and her daughters, Brittanie and Cassadie, Jennifer Burns and her husband, Tom, and their son Tristan, Kymberli Goheen and fiance, Nathan, and Aimee Goheen; daughter, Audrey Wolf and her husband, Phil, and her daughters Thomi Mannker, and twins Shaina and Zoe Weintruab, her son, Sgt. Martin Pelech and wife, Beverly; as well as the children of her husband, Mike Jr., Bill, and their families and many very dear friends.

She outlived her parents; her son, Michael; and Mike's children, Cindy and Jeff.

Heidy came to America some 50 years ago and lived in various locations on the eastern side of the continent before moving to the Libby area in the early 1970s. Here she remembered her love of the mountains and discovered what was to become a lifelong passion for horses, particularly the Arabians she developed and bred specifically for endurance and distance riding.

She was an active member of the Hooves and Company Distance Riders and competed actively in distance rides across North America, even placing fourth in the nation for the Arabian Horse Association Championship Competitive Trail Ride in Louisville, Ky., in the early '90s.

She, along with her husband, Mike, was a longtime supporter of the Human Therapy on Horseback Inc., donating time as a walker, and two of her best trail horses to the program. Following her near fatal horseback accident in June 2002, Heidy was also a client of the program, enabling her to enjoy her passion for riding and horses past the time when it would otherwise have been possible.

She was also an active supporter and participant in charity walks, which she enjoyed sharing with daughters, Sonja and Audrey, and some of her friends; and relieved and proud that both of her sons had served in the Armed Forces — Michael in the Gulf War and Martin in Iraq.

She and Mike were married Dec. 30 1979, and enjoyed many happy times in their long life together. She, along with her husband, Mike, was a longtime member of Alcoholics Anonymous, enjoying more than 29 years of quality sobriety together.

There will be a celebration of Heidy's life at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Wilkinson Hall, 101 Collins Ave., in Libby, and the family requests that instead of flowers, donations be made to Human Therapy on Horseback Inc., 1541 Whitefish, MT 59937.

Arrangements under the care of Nelson and Vial Funeral Home.