Carrie Ann Halverson Stotts, 68

Carrie Ann Halverson Stotts, of Temple, Texas (formerly of Kalispell) passed away peacefully into the arms of the Lord at her home in Temple on May 18, 2020.

Carrie was born May 28, 1951 to Bennie Halverson and Betty Young Halverson in McLaughlin, South Dakota. She was the first of three children. In 1952, the family left the farm behind and moved to Whitefish. Carrie attended both elementary and high school in Whitefish, graduating in 1969.

Growing up Carrie loved the water. From their house in Whitefish it was only seven blocks to Whitefish Lake, if you cut through the mill yard and crossed on the railroad trestle, and many summer days were spent on the beach with friends.

After high school Carrie worked several jobs in the Flathead Valley, including being an assistant manager at the Circle K in Columbia Falls. This particular store was frequented by several police officers. One of them looked particularly good in a uniform, and Carrie and Mike Stotts were married in 1975. This union resulted in the birth of two children, Erin and Shawn. They later divorced.

Mike took a job in Helena and moved his young family there in 1980. In Helena, Carrie found her career working for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana for the next 15 years. Carrie and her family found their way back to the Flathead in 1990.

Carrie loved sunshine and warm weather. After the relentless snowfalls of the winter of 1996-97, where Carrie was seen throwing a snow shovel and cursing the heavens, she moved to Las Vegas and never shoveled again. While in Las Vegas she worked for Ford Motor Credit until a disability forced her into early retirement.

Carrie loved to read. She was a particular fan of the works of James Patterson. When she died Carrie had collected and read all but two of his books.

In 2007, Carrie moved again. This time to Temple, Texas to be near her son who had recently been discharged from the Army. Her daughter followed a year later.

Carrie was preceded in death by her father Bennie O. Halverson, her mother Betty Gordon and ex-husband Mike Stotts. She is survived by her children, Erin M. Stotts and Shawn A. Stotts, both of Temple, Texas; her sister Peggy Halverson Turner (Wayne) of Kalispell; her brother Norm L. Halverson (Shawna) of Dayton, Nevada; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the First Presbyterian Church located at 540 S. Main St. in Kalispell. A celebration of life will follow at Lawrence Park.