Brittney Rene Bennetts, 37

Brittney Rene Bennetts, 37, of Kalispell, passed away in Dallas on Dec. 3, 2013.

Brittney was born in Kalispell on May 13, 1977, to Marian and Jim Bennetts. She attended St. Matthew’s Elementary, Flathead Valley Community College, the University of Montana and received a master’s degree in counseling from Southwestern College of Santa Fe in December of 2013.

Brittney was called to a life of helping others as a social worker. She worked for many wonderful organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Americorps, Montana National Guard, Child Development Center and Montana Mental Health Center. She was most recently working passionately as a counselor for Frontier Hospice.

The beauty and wildlife of Montana brought her great joy. She had a deep love of music, writing, drawing and poetry. Brittney was a lover of all animals. When she passed she had gratefully acquired 18 years of sobriety.

Brittney is survived by her mother, Marian Stone, of Kalispell; father, Jim Bennetts, and Linda La Montagne, of Novato, Calif.; brother, Brett, and Alice Bennetts, of Kalispell; sister, Colette, and Scott Riel, of Kalispell; grandfather, Chuck Bennetts, of Fairfield; grandmother, Hazel Lair, of Kalispell; her dearly beloved nieces and nephew, Natasha, Malachi, Rhiannon and Anika Bennetts, and Lauren and Avery Riel; and numerous loved aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Hannah Bennetts; grandfather, Martin Lair; and aunt, Barbara Bennetts.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at St. Matthew's Church, with a luncheon to follow.

Memorial donations may be made in Brittney’s name to Frontier Hospice, 42 Bruyer Way, Kalispell; or Northwest Montana Humane Society, Kalispell.