Mabel Elizabeth Little, 99
On Feb. 26, 2011, Mabel passed away at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork, surrounded by family.
On April 25, 1911, an extraordinary woman was born in the little town of Melrose. Mabel was the eighth of 10 children born to Ella and Otto Boetticher. She had, in her own words, a marvelous childhood and had many stories of what life was like way back when. She remembered the first car showing up in town, stealing coal from passing trains to heat their stove, bathing in the Big Hole River, going to the first talkie movie in Butte and, of course, having to fill the hated oil lamps. When a barnstorming pilot landed in town and offered rides, the first to go was Mabel, starting a lifelong fascination with flying.
After finishing the eighth grade, she traveled to Dillon to attend high school, working for families for room and board. During this time she met and fell in love with Frank Little, beginning a romance that was to last nearly 70 years. Frank and Mabel married in 1930 and, after Frank completed college at Oregon State, they spent the next several years moving about in Montana as Frank pursued a very successful coaching career. From Dutton to Glendive to Livingston to Kalispell to Libby and finally Bigfork the Little family moved, and Mabel made sure family and home were loved and cared for. Four children were born to the couple.
The devotion, support, guidance and love Mabel bestowed on her family made them wonder if she were truly a saint. Throughout her life, Mabel continued to educate herself by reading thousands of books and magazines, dreaming of seeing all the wonderful far-off places. Before she was done, she would indeed travel the globe, missing only a hoped-for trip to China.
When her cherished Frank passed away, many wondered what she would do after nearly 65 years of marriage. It became more a matter of what she wouldn't do. Thrice weekly water aerobics classes, parasailing on Flathead Lake, flying in a hot air balloon over the Flathead Valley, kayaking across Lake Washington, flying in a vintage World War I open cockpit plane, and tandem skydiving at the age of 94. She literally took our breath away. A stroke at 94 slowed her down, but her spirit remained strong.
Mabel was preceded in death by eight of her siblings, and one grandson.
She is survived by her four children, Tom Little and wife, Gerene, of Kalispell; Sue Mahlum and husband, Dale, of Missoula; Jerry Dunckel and husband, Jay, of Choteau; and John Little and wife, Cissy, of Bigfork; 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Mabel was a lifelong inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her. For her family, she left thousands of wonderful memories and a shining example of how life is meant to be lived.
“We will be lost without our guardian angel.”