Rita McDowell, 70

Rita McDowell, 70, a longtime Flathead Valley resident, passed away Jan. 28, 2008, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center of natural causes.

Rita was born in Sherwood, N.D., the daughter of Edna McNaught and Louis Gahn. Her young life was spent on the farm west of Whitefish, and she attended schools in Whitefish. She spent a short time in both California and Glasgow, but primarily she lived her life in Whitefish.

She married Herb Badger and from that marriage, a son, Brian Gale, was born.

Her life centered around her family, friends and her love of nursing. She worked at the North Valley Hospital as a surgical nurse, as well as for Kalispell Regional Hospital, and later for Dr. John Peterson, as a dental assistant.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brian; and her parents.

She is survived by a stepdaughter, Judy (Morris) Brenden; her sister, Bonnie Naethe, and husband, Don Huotte, in Utah; and by nieces, a nephew and a large extended family in Canada. Rita leaves behind many loving friends who cherished her friendship over many years.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Rose Nelson, for her loving care and companionship.

Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, also at the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Kathy Young, from the Community Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow at the Whitefish Cemetery under the direction of Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.