Della Marie Spindler, 93
Della Marie Spindler passed away at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, at the age of 93, six days short of her 94th birthday. She died of complications encountered after suffering a broken hip.
She was born on Dec. 16, 1918, to Gaston and Mary Viano. She was born at her grandparents’ home in Montford, a short distance east of Kalispell. At that time the area was mostly inhabited by Indians and a few white settlers.
She grew up in the Bald Rock Community northwest of Kalispell. She attended Bald Rock School and Flathead County High School. She earned a diploma from Flathead County High, unbeknownst to her children, on June 4, 1995.
On Nov. 19, 1934, she married Clinton F. Spindler. They lived on a farm in the Bald Rock area until 1959. At that time, her husband was a fire control officer for Lolo National Forest Service in Plains. He began working for the Forest Service in 1936.
Her husband, Clinton, passed away in August of 1963. That same year she went to work as a clerk at the Plains Drug Store. She continued in that position until she was 70 years of age, and after 23 years of service.
She was a lifetime member of the Plains Rebecca Lodge. While living in Plains, she raised four grandsons and two granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her husband. Clinton F. Spindler; her son, Clinton O. Spindler; and a great-grandson, Adrian Spindler.
She is survived by a son, Charles F. Spindler, and his wife, Jeri, of StevensvilIe; a son, Andrew R. Spindler, and his wife, Patricia, of Alta Loma, Calif.; and a daughter, Mary Rousselle, and son-in-law, Richard A. Rousselle, of Ronan; and numerous grandsons, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-great-granddaughters, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today, Dec. 13, at the Shrider-Thompson Funeral Chapel in Ronan. A rosary will be said for her at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, at Sacred Heart Church in Ronan, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. with Father Miroslaw Szynal officiating. A luncheon will follow Mass. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, at Glacier Memorial Gardens, north of Kalispell, with Charles Harball officiating.