Mandi M. Chriske

Visitation: Family to receive friends on Sunday, May 2, from 4-6 p.m., at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home.

Funeral service: 2 p.m., Monday, May 3, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Chapel.

The Creator took our beautiful Mandi to the other side on April 25th, 2010 at 10:57 a.m. Mandi was only 35 years old but suffered a high blood pressure related brain aneurism during the evening of April 24th.

Her brain injury would have been immediately fatal were it not for the quick action of her brave 13-year old daughter, Julia, who was with her at the time. Upon transfer via a mercy flight to Great Falls, her physical body was able to provide the donation of her liver to a 47 year old man in San Francisco.

Mandi Marie Chriske was born at 6:29 pm on January 30, 1975. She was the first child born to James and Julie Chriske. She was, in fact, named for the Barry Manilow song and an Aunt, Marie Elyse Ingersoll, who died in infancy. Mandi was born into a loving partnership and loved hard throughout her life; sometimes to a fault. She was a happy, humorous child who learned quickly to read. Her passion for books remained a mainstay though all her days on this earth. She adored her baby sister and brothers entry into the family and never expressed the sibling rivalry I had read so much about in parenting books; at least not until she reached puberty.

She was a left handed girl with a deep spirituality. She could see angels when she was a toddler. Her lifes work involved studying Nursing and working as a caregiver to elderly and disabled people. Her years of work at the Farm in The Dell, and the Domestic Violence Coalition were some of the most fulfilling times in her life. She also worked as a Podiatrist assistant which likely helped her to define her desire to study Nursing. She studied at Hawthorne and Jim Darcy Elementary schools, CR Anderson Middle School, Capital High School, the Vo-Tech, and the University of Montana.

Mandi trusted easily and loved deeply. She was creative and understood beautiful music and Art. She played Violin for many years and loved to sing. She read voraciously crocheted, and did cross stitch embroidery. Her musical tastes ran from Classical and Gregorian Chant to current artists. She loved Josh Groban, Parachute, Maroon 5, Vivaldi, and the Barenaked Ladies. She was often told she looked like Drew Barrymore. She was beautiful but never accepted she was, she had strong survival skills but had difficulty trusting herself. Her laugh was strong and infectious. Her sense of humor was luscious. Above all she adored her baby girl, Julia Savannah. She blessed her mother and step-mother by naming her daughter using derivatives of their names. Mandi always wanted to give her daughter the best of life; as a family we will work to ensure that all things are possible, with the Creators help.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Julia Savannah Chriske Rowlan; her mother, Julie Ingersoll Gardipee Chriske, her step-mother, Sanna Yost; her father James Chriske and step-mother Hedy Westberg; her sister, Amy Chriske Hall, and her brother-in-law, Shane Hall. Her nephews Jordan Chriske Hall and Taylor Chriske Hall were her pride and joy. She is also survived by Aunts and Uncles, Mary and Daryl Tulberg, Don and Pam Chriske, and Patti and Randy Dahlstrom. Cousins Kim and Adolf Timm and Bailey, Titus, Lyric, and Sam Weis. Casey, David and Melissa Clark, and Delores Strom. Cousins David Tulberg, Rachael Bouldin, Chad and Michelle Wilson, Brady Chriske. Her grandmother, Betty Ingersoll; grandmother, Marlene Kovash; grandfather and step-grandma, Dr. Robert and Norita Yost. Aunts and uncles, Kelly Harper, Robin and Reverend Mark Pederson, Penny and Mike Adams, Roxanne and Kurt LaRoque and Rich Kovash and Rochelle Ober; cousins Noel and Paul and Noel Pederson; Alison and Brooke Adams; JT and Tucker Harper. Aunts and Uncles Colleen and Herf Ingersoll, Cousins Dan, Vicky, Scott and Todd Ingersoll, Janet Ingersoll, Ronnie, Linda, Chase and Dusty Ingersoll and Daniel Rowlan, Julias father.

She was met on the other side by her grandpas Heinz Chriske, Richard Kovash, Eric Wilson and Clyde Gardipee Harris and by her grandmothers Genevieve Chriske, Alma Wilson, and Alice Stow Ingersoll. Her aunties Mary Mitza Tursich, Beverly Ingersoll, and Lenore Marshall, Uncle Milton Ingersoll, and her only brother, Samuel Jackson Chriske.

In lieu of Flowers the Family asks that if the spirit moves you donations can be made to an education account for her 13 year old daughter, Julia. Donations can be sent to US Bank in care of the Julia Chriske Rowlan Memorial Account. Family to receive friends on Sunday, May 2, from 4-6 p.m., at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. A funeral service is scheduled at 2 p.m., Monday, May 3, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com .

Please join with us in this time of deep sorrow to say goodbye and celebrate her life. We will be gathering at Mandis sister and brother-in-laws home at 60 Hannah Lane immediately following the formal celebration of her life. Please call 594-1435 or 458-8996 for more information or directions.