Edith 'June' Ellis Schmid, 72

Edith "June" Ellis Schmid, 72, peacefully passed away at her Kalispell residence early Tuesday morning after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). June was born June 30, 1935, in Parks, Neb., to Steven and Marian Reba Ellis, the ninth of 12 children.

June attended Parks High School and graduated in 1953. She met the love of her life, Wayne Schmid, in McCook, Neb., in 1955 and they were soon married. From this union two daughters were born, Paula Sue and Tracy Ann.

Wayne and June moved to Los Gatos, Calif., in the early 1960s and resided there until 1999, when they followed their daughters and grandchildren to the Flathead Valley. June's family was her life. She loved to spend time with her 10 grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren. She was famous for her fried chicken and chocolate cake.

June was preceded in death by her parents, Steven and Marian Reba Ellis; one brother; and two sisters.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne Schmid; her daughters, Paula Strickland of Kalispell, and Tracy Rickel of Columbia Falls, and their husbands; by her 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all of the Flathead Valley; as well as two brothers and six sisters.

A memorial service for June will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Grace Church in Kalispell. There will be a reception after the services.

June and her family request memorials be made to the ALS Foundation, Evergreen Chapter, at Grace Church, 1225 U.S. 93, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for June's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign June's guest book.