Colleen Carol "Boots" Mittelstaedt, of Spokane, WA, passed away on April 28, 2025, at the age of 99.

She was born on September 30, 1925, in Bozeman, MT, to Charles H. Dross and Delta Eliza Rasmussen. Her family moved frequently across Montana as her father worked for the railroad. She spent most of her childhood in Glasgow and finished high school in Great Falls.

Colleen had a deep love for music. She played trombone in the school band, Little Symphony, and several local ensembles. She especially enjoyed classical music, opera, and big band.

After high school, she worked for Western Union during the war, sending telegrams, and later worked in a dental office. She met her first husband, Lawrence A. Schroer, on the bus to work. They married in 1946 and had four children: Linda, Karen, Richard (Rick), and Daniel (Dan). In 1955, the family moved to Spokane. Colleen and Lawrence later divorced in 1969.

In 1971, Colleen married Mark E. Mittelstaedt. They were true partners for 55 years, sharing a deep bond and a love for learning, music, and travel. They were often found at the library or listening to symphonies together. Mark lovingly cared for Colleen, especially in later years, and their devotion to one another was evident to all who knew them.

Colleen had an adventurous spirit and many hobbies. She enjoyed hot air balloons, gliders, helicopters, and parasailing. She loved camping at Priest Lake, hiking, swimming, and ziplining. She was an artist who painted in both oils and watercolor and created floral arrangements as part of a local garden club. She even learned to weld and made jewelry.

Colleen was a devoted mother, fiercely protective of her children. She was a faithful Catholic with an unwavering spirit, meeting life's challenges with strength and grace.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and her son, Richard L. Schroer. She is survived by her husband, Mark Mittelstaedt; daughters Linda Schroer Reichert and Karen Schroer Finch; son Daniel Schroer; 14 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren, with more on the way.