Mary Louise Harner

Mary Louise Harner, 84 of Columbia Falls, died Nov. 30, 2010, at the Whitefish Care & Rehabilitation Center. She was born on May 5, 1925, in Carrington, N. D., to William and Maude Reuter.

Mary Louise received her nursing degree from Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane, Wash., in 1947. While a student at Sacred Heart Hospital, she met her husband, Robert C. Harner, who had been recently discharged from the U.S. Air Force with a Purple Heart. They were married on June 3, 1947, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spokane, Wash.

That same year, they moved to Kalispell, here Mary Louise began her nursing career at Kalispell General Hospital. In 1949, Mary Louise and Bob moved to Coram, when Bob began employment with the Bureau of Reclamation. Mary Louise continued her nursing career at the Hungry Horse Clinic. In 1965, Mary Louise and Bob purchased and moved to property located near Columbia Falls. Mary Louise continued to work as a nurse for private physicians in Flathead County until she retired as an office nurse for Dr. Carlson in Columbia Falls in 1979.

She enjoyed knitting and crocheting, gardening and spending summer weekends entertaining family and friends with her husband at their cabin on Echo Lake. After retirement, Mary Louise and Bob spent their winters in California and Arizona, returning to their home near Columbia Falls every spring.

Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Steven R. Harner in August 2000; and her husband, Robert, in August 2004.

Mary Louise is survived by her daughter, Cheryl L. Harner of Gilroy, Calif.

Funeral services were held for Mary Louise on Dec. 7, 2010, at Saint Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is assisting the family.