Aleta Rae Ortmann Abell, 53
On March 1, Aleta Rae Ortmann Abell of Columbia Falls passed from this world into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With a faith that amazed her team of doctors, nurses, and caregivers she showed a strength that could only have come from her relationship with Christ. She fought a short and valiant battle with lung cancer with courage and strength telling everyone she met “God's got this.” Diagnosed on Oct. 27, she endured seven weeks of radiation and eight treatments of chemotherapy, but she wasn’t to be healed in this world but in the next. Aleta spent the last few days in Logan Healthcare being able to visit with family and friends of which there was a constant stream by her bedside. Aleta passed peacefully holding the hand of her husband, Brad Abell, and her mom, Joan Ortmann, with friends and family members by her side. Aleta was a registered organ and tissue donor, and her final gift was her corneas that would enable two people to regain their sight.
Aleta was born Feb. 21, 1971, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Paul and Joan Ortmann (Poncin), joining brother Mark and sisters Debbie, Denise and Julie at home in Lisbon, Iowa. In 1983 she moved with her mom to Polson, where she graduated from High School in 1989. She started her work career at Pizza Hut in Polson, waiting tables where her strong work ethic led to her managing Pizza Huts in Bigfork, Kalispell, Green River, Wyoming, and Rock Springs, Wyoming. She also worked for Walmart both in the jewelry and fabric departments. The loss of her husband in 2007 brought her back to Flathead Valley from Wyoming, where she went to work for National Flood. In 2009 she was out with friends dancing when she ran into a friend from her past, Brad Abell. They rekindled their friendship, and they spent the next 14 years together. During this time Aleta was able to be a stay-at-home mom when her son Gabriel needed her and received her associate degree from FVCC. Returning to the workforce at Smith's Grocery in Columbia Falls as a checker she soon proved her value as an employee and became the customer service manager in the Kalispell store and then the manager of their Fuel Center. She then worked for Don K Subaru showing new owners how to navigate their technology, then spent a short time at Culligan Water before returning to Don K and then moving on to join Three Rivers Bank as a new accounts specialist.
She is survived by her husband, Brad Abell; son, Drew Joseph Clark and wife, Mercedes and grandchildren, Darius, Jacelyn, and Caspian; son, Gabriel McNeely; mother, Joan Ortmann (Poncin) of Columbia Falls; father, Paul Ortmann of Lisbon, Iowa; brother, Mark Angelini (Maureen); sisters, Debbie Williams (Gaye), Denise Ortmann, and Julia Underwood (Steve); and numerous nieces, and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.