Francella Butler passed away peacefully at St. Peter's Hospital on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at age 67.

Born Francella Fortier in 1941, Fran grew up in North St. Paul, Minn., with a brother and five sisters. She was called "Toots" by her family because of an early fondness for Tootsie Rolls.

After marrying in 1964 and having her first child, she moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1966, where two more children were born. The family moved to Great Falls in 1976 and then to Helena in 1990. Fran has lived in Helena ever since.

In 1979, Fran was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension, a rare disorder that had very few treatments at the time. Fran was given only a few years to live, but, with a strict regimen of medication and great faith and determination, she overcame her medical condition to raise her three children, work and enjoy life for 30 more years.

She was a popular lady in Helena, working for many years as the office manager at a doctor's office and then in the medical records department of St. Peter's Hospital, where she also volunteered. She was actively involved in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Helena Red Hat Society.

Her smile was contagious, and she will be sorely missed by her many friends and relatives.

Surviving Fran are her partner and companion, Robert Callero; her sisters, Bernie (Willie) Holzer, Elaine (Zim) Varin, Bonnie (Fran) Turgeon, Suzette Prudhomme and Judy Fortier; her sister-in-law, Delores Fortier; her adopted sister, Jo Carroll; her children, Wolf Butler, Jeff (Andrea) Butler and Lisa (Jason) Severson; and her grandchildren, Kyleen Wise, Tayler Wise, Ethan Hortick, Spenser Hortick, Sylvie Butler, Henry Butler and Brannen Severson.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Florence Fortier; her stepfather, Leo Fortier; and her brother, Lee Fortier.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1700 Missoula Ave., on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Rd., Ste. 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910, www.phassociation.org.