Page 52 - Flathead Beacon // 6.1.16

BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN
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Gale Ritter
December 7, 1943 – May 13, 2016
For anyone who’s an avid RVer, cowboy at heart, or lover of life read on for a great tale! What follows is the life story of Gale Ritter who on Friday, May 13, 2016 le for her nal adventure. Her spirit carries on through her older brother Harroun
“Rich” Richardson who lives in ailand, her eldest daughter Cindy Ritter and her husband Greg Wright of Columbia Falls, her youngest daughter Teri Ste ens and her husband Je Ste ens of Kalispell, and a very large extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life!
We learned many valuable lessons from Gale (aka Gale- isms) during her 72 years here upon this earth, chief among them:
• Always Live, Love, and Laugh
(Also referred to as “L” to the 3rd power (L3))
• e faster you go, the less you feel the bumps
( is still applies even if you’re not driving down dirt roads)
• Take time to appreciate your surroundings no matter where you’re at
( e where isn’t as important as what you get out of it)
• Be sure to follow the 7 P’s of Life
(PriorProperPlanningPreventsPissPoorPerformance)
• Fly the American Flag proudly
(And always thank a Vet for their service)
• Remember to blow with the whim
(Enjoy the unexpected and discover the extraordinary)
Gale’s adventures began in Monterey, CA on December 7, 1943. She graduated high school from e Bishop’s School in La Jolla, CA in 1962. Four years later she graduated college from Chapman College in Orange, CA with a BA in Physical Education. While there she played basketball under jersey number 13. is began her lifelong a nity for the number 13, and particularly Friday the 13th! Gale joined the Red Cross in January, 1967. From September, 1967 to October, 1968 she was stationed in Cam Rahn Bay, Viet- nam. While there she helped wounded soldiers in the 12th USAF Evacuation Hospital by providing recreational activities. She eventually le the Red Cross in April, 1969.
at same month Gale moved to St. Helena, CA where she met the love of her life, Ken. ey got married on August 13, 1970, and would spend the next 39 wonderful years together. ey moved back to Ken’s home state of Montana in May, 1975. e family nally settled down on the Ritter Homestead along the North Fork Road outside Colum- bia Falls in April, 1976. It became a sanctuary where Gale and Ken raised two beautiful daughters (one found in a sea shell, the other under a rock)! It was there that the Ritters found an extended family in the neighborhood that they still call home today.
In 2001 Gale retired from Architectural Woodwork of Montana, where she had been a woodworker for 12 years. A year later she and Ken started “blow’n with the whim” in their h wheel trailer. Every fall they would travel south together, gathering old and new friends along the way. is continued until 2009 when Ken went ahead to reserve the best campground site in heaven for Gale. Even a er Ken’s passing Gale never lost
her spirit of adventure. She downsized her h wheel and started heading out on her own with her dog, Sissy, for company. e best treasures she found on her trips were the many people she met and befriended. Gale attracted people like bees to honey. From Montana slopes, through Nevada wildlife refuges, to the rugged hills of central Texas she never stopped loving life and having fun. Gale truly made her own adventures!
Gale had numerous interests throughout her life. Here are a few: horseback riding (in her youth she entered many competitive trail events), kayaking, driving fast cars, hosting Friday night porch parties, bird watching, gathering scraps of wood for camp res, wood working, stamp collecting, playing games of all kinds, and spending time with her be- loved family and friends! ey are what truly de ned her!
Family and friends can come celebrate Gale’s life on June 25, 2016 @ 2:00 PM MST at the Ritter Homestead.
In lieu of owers, please consider donating to First Descents who provide life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults a ected by cancer. Gale spent several summers vol- unteering with First Descents. She believed their programs helped participants under- stand that they could overcome challenges in their lives, just as they could learn to kayak boldly down a river. To learn more or to donate in Gale’s memory go to:
http://support. rstdescents.org/celebrategaleritter
Gale, may you always blow with the whim. You are forever in our hearts and will be greatly missed. Now go—ride o into the sunset! Until our next adventures together, be at peace.
Pub Date: 12/28/12 Slug: USUDOKU_g1_122812.ai
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By Ben Arnoldy
Sudoku Di culty:
Three- by-three square
How to do Sudoku
Fill in the grid so the numbers 1 through 9 appear just once in every column, row, and three-by-three square. See example above.
The Christian Science Monitor
© 2012 The Christian Science Monitor (www.csmonitor.com). All rights reserved. Distributed by The Christian Science Monitor News Service (email: [email protected]) RICH CLABAUGH/STAFF ILLUSTRATOR.ai
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