Lois "Carol" Ralstin

Lois "Carol" Ralstin passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Bee Hive Homes, where her last years were spent.

Born in 1922 to Beulah and Irvin Haase, Carol lived her younger years in the Noxon/Trout Creek area, graduating from Noxon High School in 1941. She eventually relocated to Thompson Falls and lastly to Missoula, where she met and married Don Ralstin.

Carol's life was filled with music, especially dancing. She loved to jitterbug and loved teaching her grandchildren. When she and Don weren't taking short trips, they were enjoying their home and garden in Orchard Homes. She worked at the Sanders and Missoula county courthouses, and later had a salon in her home called Carol's Stylette. She also groomed dogs for a time.

Carol was strong, stubborn, funny, opinionated and a loving wife, mother, grandma and great-grandma, and that is what made her special.

She loved clothes, shoes, jewelry and makeup. Looking good was important to her, which caused her to be "fashionably late" on a regular basis.

Carol is survived by daughter Laila Owen (husband Keith), grandson Kirk Owen, granddaughter Kari Gondry (husband Grant) and great-granddaughter Lili Gondry, all of Spokane; daughter Lori Schwaderer (husband Randy) and granddaughters Aubrie Soetart (husband Chris) of Overland Park, Kan., and Autumn Schwaderer of Missoula; stepson Lynn Ralstin (wife Pat) of Soap Lake, Wash., and granddaughter Shelley Amend of Seattle.

We would like to especially thank the staff at Bee Hive Homes and Rocky Mountain Hospice for their wonderful care of our mom and grandma. You treated her so well. Also to Marv and Patta Kahler, who did so much for our family over the past nine years. Your kindness and thoughtfulness will always be remembered.

There will be a celebration of Carol's life held at a later date this summer.
Read Lois Ralstin's Obituary and Guestbook.