HELENA (AP) - Bette Bohlinger, the wife of Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger and one-time partner in the family's Billings clothing store, died Monday at a hospital here.

Mrs. Bohlinger, 70, recently was diagnosed for a second time with acute leukemia and was awaiting a bone-marrow transplant. She had attended a bone-marrow screening campaign organized by the governor's office just last week in Helena.

The governor's office confirmed Bohlinger died Monday at St. Peters Hospital in Helena.

"We are people of faith," Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger said Monday in a statement. "My family thanks the people of Montana for all their support and we ask them to keep us in their thoughts and prayers as we go through this trying time."

Mrs. Bohlinger was first diagnosed with leukemia a little more than a year ago, shortly before her husband took office in January 2005.

She was diagnosed late last year with acute leukemia for a second time, after a period when it had been considered that the disease was in remission.

"She had a big heart and she and John were a wonderful pair. They complemented each other and really brought out the best in each other," said longtime friend Stella Ziegler of Billings. "She was really a fighter."

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects blood cells, spreading from white blood cells to bone marrow, according to the American Cancer Society. It can move into the blood quickly and spread to other parts of the body.

The governor's office had organized an event last Thursday to register people for the National Bone Marrow Registry. Gov. Brian Schweitzer and more than 50 others had blood samples taken to see if any would qualify as potential donors for Bohlinger or other patients on the registry.

Mrs. Bohlinger, who lived in Billings before her husband took office last year, had six children and fourteen grandchildren.

"She was a real advocate for the downtrodden. She wasn't judgmental," Ziegler said. "She got out there and saw a need and tried to help."

In 2001, Mrs. Bohlinger and her legislator husband accompanied a former prostitute who spoke tearfully at a Capitol hearing on a bill for a tougher law against promoting prostitution. John Bohlinger sponsored the bill. Mrs. Bohlinger often took an interest in the issues before him as a lawmaker.

Mrs. Bohlinger also was active St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings and was a partner in Aileen's, the family's upscale women's clothing store in Billings. It was sold to family members when the Bohlingers retired.

"She was energetic," Ziegler said. "She was the last person in the world I would think this would happen to."

John Bohlinger, a longtime Republican lawmaker, was tagged by Schweitzer, a Democrat, in 2004 to be his running mate.

Schweitzer canceled his Monday schedule and ordered flags to be flown at half staff at the state Capitol.

"Bette always had a smile, always had kind words for everyone, she was an amazing woman, a dear friend and a great Montanan -- she will be missed," Schweitzer said in a written statement. "Nancy and I are praying for John and his family."

A funeral is tentatively scheduled for Saturday in Billings.