Loretta Schell

Loretta Schell, 91, of Billings, Mont., formerly of Baker, Mont., died May 21, with family by her side.

Loretta was born to Edward and Ella Kitten, Feb. 16, 1930, in Slayton, Texas. At the age of one, her family moved to a farm outside of Lawrence, Neb. She attended school in Lawrence and in her early teens became a nanny for the Bud Bowen family. Loretta moved with the Bowen family to Baker, Mont., where she met her husband, Bert Schell. They married Oct. 3, 1949, and raised nine children.

Loretta was tirelessly committed to providing for her nine children. She kept an immaculate home and made cleaning a family affair. She was proud of her garden and particularly enjoyed canning tomatoes and pickles. Loretta insisted the family meet for dinner at exactly 6:30 p.m., usually for a delicious meal from scratch. Dessert was the highlight. Loretta took special care to travel to farms with the best eggs and cream to create her baking masterpieces! Family favorites included kuchen, cinnamon rolls and apple pie.

Loretta brought her love of baking and cooking to the Baker School’s hot lunch program. She proudly worked as a cook for 24 years, providing nutritious and tasty meals for the Baker school children.

In 2015, Bert and Loretta moved to assisted living in Billings, Mont. For the first time in her life, she enjoyed meals and cleaning provided by others. Loretta relished in her new found free time, developing a serious passion for Bingo, with most of her winnings shared with grandchildren. In the immortal words of Bert Schell, “Loretta loved her Bingo, Bingo, Bingo!”

Loretta is predeceased by her parents, five brothers, Vernon, Richard, Art, Leroy and Eddy; and her husband, Bert.

She is survived by two sisters, Jovita (Delbert) Lemke and Evelyn Ostdiek; daughters, Diane (Ron) Thompson of Athens, Wis., Coleen (Bruce) Hocking of Eugene, Ore., Janice (Craig) Townsend of Johns Island, S.C., Ginny (Terry) Stewart of Bozeman, Mont., Marilyn (Glen) Cameron of Columbia, Mo., Peggy (John) Lindstrom of Bowman, N.D., Sue (Dale) Hogenson of Billings, Mont .; sons, Luke (Allison) Schell of Saint Paul, Minn., and Kurt (Mary) Schell of Billings, Mont .; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Her funeral is planned for 12:30 p.m., Friday, June 25, at the Smith Funeral Home in Billings with burial following at the Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel. Loretta will be laid to rest next to her husband, Bert. Condolences can be sent to http://www.smithfuneralchapels.com.