KARI AARDAL obituary

CHOTEAU - Kari Ione Aardal, 39, of Choteau died Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital drom complications due to diabetes.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Choteau. The Revs. Jerry Olson, Luther Mathsen of Albuquerque, N.M. and Eric

Mathsen of the Bronx, N.Y., will officiate jointly, as per Kari's wishes. The Revs. Luther and Eric are members of the family, being sons of Mr. and Mrs. Almore Mathsen of Spring Grove, Minn.

A second funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel in Havre with interment to follow in the Highland Cemetery. Visitation hours in Choteau will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Gorder Funeral Home and in Havre from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holland-Bonine Funeral Home.

Kari was born on April 8, 1964, in Havre to David and Myrna (Knudsvig) Aardal. She became a diabetic at age 4 wile living in Bad Kissingen, Germany. As a military dependent, she traveled excessively through Europe and Scandinavia, seeing much of the world at a very young age. She graduated from Vicenza American High School in Vicenza, Italy.

Aspiring to be a marine biologist in her early years, her health became a stumbling block. She loved marine life and had a tremendous love for all animals and wildlife. She enjoyed camping, listening to her music and loved working on her computer. She enjoyed doing crafts with her sister, reading and just spending time with her family. Kari had three cats.

She was very pleased with all of her caregivers at Teton Medical Center and Benefis Hospital, especially doctors Shelton, Ross and Maynard and the nursing staff at Benefis Dialysis Center.

Kari was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents.

Survivors include her parents, David and Myrna Aardal, both of Choteau; sister, Reidun (Chief Warrant Office (CW3) Nathan) of Ft. Brag, N.C.; an aunt and uncle in Fairfield; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins throughout the United States and Norway.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, American Kidney Foundation, American Society for the Blind, American Amputee Society or Bright Eyes Animal Rehab of Choteau.

Gorder Funeral and Holland and Bonine funeral homes are in charge of arrangements.