Evelyn Anderson Grabs, 97

Evelyn Grabs, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, was "called from this life" on Oct. 26, 2008, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.

She was born on Sept. 23, 1911, to John and Sophie Anderson, immigrants from Sweden, and was the oldest of five children. She was raised on rural Waller Road, attending schools in Tacoma, Wash., and graduating from Lincoln High School in 1929. She was confirmed in her faith at the Swedish Tabernacle in Tacoma.

Evelyn met her husband, Frank Grabs, a construction engineer from Germany, at their place of employment. They were married Nov. 28, 1931. They enjoyed hiking at Mount Rainier, their cabin in the Cascades and their many pets. Frank passed away in 1954.

For many years Evelyn was an active partner in the family businesses of construction, real estate and ranching. Throughout the years she lived in Washington, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Her hobbies included rock hounding, shaking for sapphires, collecting geodes, arrowhead hunting, searching for rubies and collecting fossils in northeastern Montana.

Evelyn also enjoyed traveling with her three sisters. She had fond memories of trips to Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala and the Orient.

Evelyn was a cancer survivor. She loved and was loved by her family and friends. When needed she was always ready to help out. She made others feel special. She was an animal advocate, loving and caring for her pets, trying to make the world a better place for our furry friends. Cats, dogs, farm animals -- she loved them all.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her brother, Anders Anderson; and her sisters, Kathryn Harding and Hazel Greer.

She is survived by her sister, Helen Anderson, of Gig Harbor, Wash.; her daughter, Suzanne, and her husband, Al Sylling, of Kalispell; granddaughters, Kerianne and her husband, Tom Robertson, of Boerne, Texas, and Krista and her husband, Wayne Martens, of Kalispell; and her great-granddaughters, Ariana Wemple of Missoula, and Claire Robertson of Boerne. She also is survived by her nieces, Layne, Ann, Paula Pam, Kay and Susan; and nephews, Mark, Richard and Jon.

Suggested memorials are to Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary, 400 Rolling Dog Lane, Ovando, MT 59854; or Flathead Spay and Neuter Task Force, P.O. Box 2095, Whitefish, MT 59937.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Garden Chapel Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, Wash.