Constance Maureen "Connie" Shultz

Constance Maureen Shultz "Connie" passed away Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, due to an excruciating battle with cancer.

Connie was born Feb. 25, 1943, in Great Falls to Ralph Nebel and Eunice Freie Arrigoni.

As a young girl she was raised on a farm in Dillon and was educated in the Dillon public schools.

While in high school she was a cheerleader and excellent with the baton. Mama was a Rainbow Girl while working her way to The Order of the Eastern Star. On top of that, she was a beautiful pianist.

She married Bill Martin – her high school sweetheart – and they moved to Missoula where they attended the University of Montana. Mama was a Delta Gamma and worked with the Native American Coalition. Bill was in the Air Force and they moved to Florida where she developed her love for collecting sea shells. They are beautiful, I must say.

After their divorce she went to work as an office manager at The Title Guarantee Company of Missoula. While she was working, she met the love of her life, Bert Shultz, while he and his partner, Michael Jurasek, were playing a joke on the owner.

Connie and Bert were married in Couer d'Alene, Idaho, in 1973. In 1976, I was born. As my father would say, I came along a little too late in life! Ha ha! They moved to Polson where my mama loved her gardens, brunch on the water and out fishing with Bert. Our best times together were listening to music and talking till the wee hours of the morning. She and Dad made a trip to Vegas where they could see Tony Orlando and Dawn. Mama loved Tony and Dad loved Dawn. It worked out well for all five of them.

I bought a home where mama and I could live together forever, yet futures have a way of falling down mid- flight.

She was a loving wife, mother – you name it. She had beauty, a sense of humor – everything. She was a true lady. People always said she was the most beautiful woman to ever step out of Dillon. She was the most beautiful person I have ever come across. I was blessed with amazing parents and a wonderful family.

Connie is survived by her daughter, Maureen Constance Shultz, and Billy Martin, Mason Shultz, Beth Shultz Gregg and family, Reid Shultz and Joseph Arrigoni; the Giles, Hollands and Nebels of Great Falls; and her faithful companions, Alf & Scoobers.

All of our thanks to: Bill Martin, Linda, Dallas, Carol, Bonnie, Ingrid. Andi Siegle, Lietta Petersen and family, the Harsells, Cliff Fontaine and family. Bill Manthie and Sherri Hardenburg, Jennifer Kraylick, Shanay, Wendy and Lisa from Hospice and to all at Hillside Manor. To Mario Smith – without his loving care and support for mama, I could not have done this without him. I will always be eternally thankful.

To honor mama's memory, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Animeals at 1700 Rankin St., Missoula, MT 59808.

All my blessings to friends of my family.

Garden City Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements

Read Constance Shultz's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.