Margaret Ann “Mugs” Stelling Pieters

Our beloved mother, grandmother & great grandmother, Margaret Ann “Mugs” Stelling Pieters, joined her parents, Anna & Herman “Rocky” Klingler and her brother Lloyd (Jane) Klingler in heaven on her 85th birthday, March 30. Born in Havre, on March 30, 1928, she attended what was then MSU in Missoula and was a Grizzly cheerleader. She worked as a telephone operator in early years and retired as the Ravalli County Clerk of Court in 1988. She married Charles “Chuck” Stelling in August 1949 and is survived by three children Stephen (Keni) Stelling, Mark (Linda) Stelling and Laurel (Pete) Rowan, six grandchildren Melanie (Oli) Tripp, Stevie (Melissa) Stelling Jr., Brianne Rowan, Lisa Rowan, Jason Bigelow, Jon (Kim) Tripp, Mikaela Beausoleil and nine additional great grandchildren. A life long member of the Episcopal Church and Eastern Star, she married William Pieters in 1989 and enjoyed her home in Hamilton and her backyard ‘Free porch’ built by son Mark. Nothing ever came before her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her love was extended to so many and she was the inspiration and the very best in all of her family. Our lives were changed and enriched by her, as was everyone’s who knew her. She loved to paint and do crafts, which included her ‘bear house’ and always put everyone’s needs before her own. She had a wonderful sense of fun and for years was known for exploding or collapsing birthday cakes filled with water balloons, frosted with shaving cream or topped with firecrackers. She loved holidays, including Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving with her Thanksgiving programs every year. She will be missed by many and will be lovingly remembered by her family forever. Viewing was held Monday, April 1 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Missoula. Funeral services took place in celebration of ‘Mugs’ life at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home on Tuesday April 2. With the burial following at Sunset Memorial Gardens, service officiated by Father Grant.