Michelle Malletta

Michelle Malletta, cherished daughter of Joe and Sue Malletta, loving sister to Nanette and Bill Reed and AJ and Dave Wagner, fun-loving aunt to Meredith Reed and Leighton Wagner, passed away on Aug. 22, 2015 at her home in Whitefish after an exhaustive, multi-year battle with breast cancer. Michelle “Shelly” was born Nov. 14, 1967 in Whitefish.

Michelle packed a lot of living into her 47 years. She had an aversion to homework in high school, but due to the assistance of a studious boyfriend, was an honor roll student. She was a starting guard on the girls basketball teams that went to state three times, was a cheerleader, Junior Miss (1985), and a popular classmate.

After high school she was an AFS student in Sweden (1987) for a year where she loved traveling throughout Europe. After a year at Flathead Valley Community College, Michelle attended Montana State University graduating in graphic design in 1993.

In 1989 she was Winter Carnival Queen when the Carnival Grand Parade was held inside the new Whitefish Mall due to the extreme cold. She and her roommates at MSU, known as the “Grand Girls,” became legends for their prize-winning Halloween costumes.

After college she lived in Vico Morcote, Switzerland working in a restaurant and continued her travels throughout Europe studying art and architecture. Her trips to Italy, Hawaii and Mexico with her family were highlights for everyone, as were trips to Nepal, Sri Lanka and Mexico with friends. Returning to Montana, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of Great Falls.

Her family would like to thank her friends and co-workers at the Village Shop and Wasabi as well as her special friends who heaped love and attention on her during her fight with cancer. Their loving concern, visits, gifts, brown/green juice, flowers, meals and support were invaluable during Michelle’s long ordeal.

It is Michelle’s wish to be cremated with a celebration of life be held at a future date. The family requests any remembrances be sent to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Phoenix (H.O.P.E. Team, 142000 W. Celebrate Life Way, Goodyear, AZ 85330) where Michelle received such wonderful care, or to Stumptown Art Studio (145 Central Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937) for art scholarships for local students.