Betty Ann (Ross) Nolan, 92

Betty Ann was born to Ted and Esther Ross on Feb. 10, 1933, in Kalispell. Over the next eight years, three more siblings were added to the family. Growing up she excelled in her studies. Her childhood was filled with picnics, fishing and camping by lakes, surrounded by loved ones. Woodland Park, Lawrence Park, Glacier National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada, Flathead Lake and man who held many life experiences and wonderful memories.

Church was the center of their family's life. As a small girl, she gave her heart to Jesus knowing that only He can save us from our sins. Her Great Uncle the Rev. James E. Rasmussen planted the Kalispell Assembly of God in Kalispell (Canvas Church) which originally met in a living room. She was blessed with a beautiful alto singing voice, she also taught herself how to play the piano and learned to play the guitar and accordion. With this desire to tell others about Jesus, she and others in her sphere did outreaches in the outlying community. She graduated in 1951 from Flathead High School and attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she had her first professional piano lessons.

After college, she went to help her parents who by this time had purchased and had been running the Polebridge Mercantile since 1955. It was there she met a Canadian man who happened to catch her eye, Wallace John Nolan, while he was visiting and purchasing supplies for trapping and guiding in the Canadian wilderness. On April 11, 1960, they were married in Polebridge. Soon she moved with Wally to British Columbia, Canada, where he was employed as a miner. There, two more daughters were born. Then a move back to Polebridge and a green card for Wally. There, another daughter was born. Around 1964 Wally was hired by John Bolster (later Paul Grosswiler) who ran a dairy farm in West Valley. Two more children were born, a daughter and a son. The farm had many happy memories. She grew a huge garden, raising ducks, geese and other farm animals. Betty was an avid gardener and loved flowers. Every place she lived, she turned her yard into a beautiful oasis. She painted, knitted, crocheted and did needlework in her spare time. In 1970 the family would take a six-week camping trip to Ontario, Canada, to visit Wally's father and relatives. In the mid-1970s, work brought the family to Polebridge to their vacation cabin/home (which was later sold and became the North Fork Hostel) and eventually a move back to the farm.

In March 1980, sadly Wally would pass away from complications from surgery. This would leave Betty to care for the four children left at home. After a few years, Betty would re-enter the workforce. She would join the housekeeping staff at Christian Center where she worked for the next 32 years. This labor of love would include tending to large flower beds and pots she would create. Her green thumb was enjoyed by everyone. She was a member of the church orchestra for many years where she played the violin and viola. Her love for taking drives and hiking with her family in Glacier Park would create many memories. One of her lifelong achievements was being a published writer and poet. In all of her adult life, she poured her heart and soul out through these short stories and poems.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace J. Nolan; infant grandson, Jonathan David Patterson; her parents, Ted and Esther Ross; infant granddaughter, Mary Ann Hume; brothers, the Rev. Kenneth Ross and the Rev. Robert Ross and sister, Norma Fredericks. 

She is survived by her children, Elise VanAntwerp (Van), Judy Hamilton (Mike), Rhonda Patterson (Ron), Jessica Krueger (Gary), Bettejo Dyck (Cal) and Scott Nolan (Melissa); 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell.

All are invited to a funeral service to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, at Conrad Cemetery in Kalispell. A service of remembrance and celebration of Betty's life and a light meal will follow at Glacier Bible Camp, 400 Fifth St. W., Hungry Horse, Montana.