Velma Marie Chiotti

Velma Marie Chiotti, 95, of Conrad, passed away on January 5, 2018. A vigil service will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. A funeral liturgy will be on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Velma Marie (Davis) Chiotti was born March 4, 1922 to O.K. and Elizabeth (Pauli) Davis in Conrad, MT. The 3rd of 13 children, she attended Erickson Country School, graduated in 1940 from Conrad High School and in 1943 from Columbus Hospital School of Nursing in Great Falls, MT. It was during this time she met her future husband, Edward Chiotti while he was visiting his niece in the hospital. After graduation, she ventured with life-long friend and fellow nurse Helen Vermulm, who soon became her sister-in-law, to work in Washington, D.C. When Velma returned, she and Ed were married on July 4, 1944 in Boise, Idaho. When Ed returned from the Army Air Corps, they moved to Sand Coulee where they raised their family. Velma provided private duty nursing care before joining Columbus Hospital as an ER nurse, retiring in 1970. She moved to Great Falls after Ed’s passing, living at Stites retirement complex for 14 years before returning to her hometown of Conrad. Velma was active in her community as a PTA member, FHA advisor, election judge, FWP volunteer, city-county planning board member, and was unofficially Sand Coulee’s medical advisor. She also belonged to the home demonstration club, St. James Alter Society, Columbus Hospital volunteers, Benefis advisory board, VFW auxiliary, UGF Guild, The Elks, The Eagles, Mixed Nuts, and Centerville Senior Citizens Center. She and Ed were members of the Winnebago-Itasca, Thousand Trails, Good Sam’s, and Smelter Retirees travel clubs. Along with her active social life, Velma especially enjoyed hosting family gatherings. She loved learning, sharing with others, and good times with family and friends.Her kind, generous nature and willingness to help drew people to her. Velma is survived by her children, Larry (Holly) Chiotti, Kaye (Bob) Moritz, Joanne Haaland, and Rick (Kathy) Chiotti; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings Rosemary Love and Tom Davis; sisters-in-law Cynthia Kipp and Myra Davis; brother-in-law Bud Duncan; and numerous nieces and nephews; including her go-to guy Ed (Marie) Berti. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers Edmond (Wanda), Ray (Helen), Clair (Ramona), Leo, Oliver, and Ronald Davis; sisters Nellie Schultz, Mae Hallenberg, Olive Duncan, and Betty Ann Duncan; and an infant granddaughter.