Merriel A. Coldwell

PLENTYWOOD - Did you feel it? The world was changed on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007, with the passing of Merriel A. (Falconer) Coldwell. Merriel had been living at the Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood.
Merriel was born in Boston on Feb. 25, 1925. She grew up in Quincy, Mass., and met Walter Coldwell of Baker when he was stationed in Massachusetts after WWII. Merriel made a cross country train trip to Montana and they were married in 1949. She and Walter lived on a ranch south of Baker and raised four children. Above all, Merriel loved her family and was the "keeper of the family history" on the Coldwell as well as the Falconer families. She was the knot that kept the families tied together, so the entrance of Alzheimer's into her life in 2005 was a huge blow to the family. Merriel also loved to visit with her friends. She kept everyone informed and involved with letters, cards and phone calls. For many years, Merriel wrote the 101 News column in the Fallon County Times, so that everyone knew what was happening weekly in the country south of Baker.
Merriel was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Coldwell; and youngest son, Mark Coldwell. She is survived by daughters, Linda (Gary) Collins of Bend, Ore., and Nancy Lee Coldwell of Baker; and by son Alan (Cindy) Coldwell of Plentywood; son by choice, John (Peggy) Lindstrom and family of Bowman, N.D.; also by five grandchildren, Galvin Collins of Portland, Ore., Tiffeny (James) Wagener and Tyler Coldwell of Houston, Ashley Henry of Minot, N.D., and Payden Coldwell of Plentywood.
The family would like to thank the staff at the SMH&NH for their excellent care for and friendship with Merriel over the past months.
Private family services will be held at the Coldwell Ranch on Sunday, Sept. 2. A celebration of life will be held for Merriel's family and friends from 1-4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3, at The Tavern in Baker.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.