Rachel Leann Maki-Mostad

A tribute to Rachel Leann Maki-Mostad

With broken hearts, Rachel passed on February 13, 2024, at Community Hospital. During a routine gallbladder surgery, her heart suddenly stopped and was unable to be resuscitated and stabilized after several attempts. 

Rachel was a rare and unique blessing to our world. An avid reader of numerous books at any time, she lived thousands of lives and adventures through literature. She took that heart and lust for adventure and was not afraid to start or learn something new. Learning Judo as a teen, she was never tentative about using her kid sister as a sparring partner. A force on the ice as a hockey player, she was never shy about taking the hit and giving it back twice as hard. Self-defense courses and kickboxing made her versatile for hiking, cross-country skiing and backpacking. Her affinity for paddle boarding, swimming, and CrossFit helped her athletic ability to substitute for a variety of intramural sports games on the fly.

Playing hard was balanced with connecting with nature on walks along the river and tubing with blanco tequila and seltzer water. A lover of all things ocean, she could often be found at local aquariums, spending entire days smiling amidst the dancing sea life. Rachel never saw a manatee she didn’t want to hug or an orca she didn’t want to kiss; dolphins received the brunt of that love. Always the sly fox, one could say the clever little white-tailed, redheaded furry friend was her spirit animal through and through. 

When resting her active body and mind, Rachel was always found chilling on the couch watching one or more of her beloved Miyazaki Animes or critiquing renovation shows with her craftsman spouse. Crafting, sewing, furniture flips, painting, and interior design were not just hobbies but talents she possessed at the highest level. All these creative gifts she invested into her family, friends and any kid willing to pick up some crayons and scissors and have a crazy craft party. 

Equal parts blunt force and soft breeze, Rachel’s boldness and patience served to fight for others and what was right while soothing the fiery spirits of others. A scientist, philosopher, analyst, and detective once removed, Rachel was intelligent, intuitive and strong-minded. She was never one to be less than honest, more than open, and unable to give up on anyone. 

Always working on personal growth to provide her best for others. Rachel’s constant, subtle and eternal challenge for us to do better and be better remains.

A strong outer shell with a loving inside, Rachel’s tough exterior protected the sensitive soul that was incredibly thoughtful and intentional in her relationships. With astounding loyalty and fierce advocacy, all who called her family, friends, or both, could rely on Rachel through hell or high water and all things hard. Her grit, wit and all things in-between made her an inviting presence for pleasantries with strangers and friendships come and gone. 

Rachel was passionate about her community, advocating for those who are underserved and using her voice to help those whose voices were not being heard. She used her platform in her 25-year career at Clearwater Credit Union to help make her community, and the world, a better place. Rachel touched countless lives and left them better than she found them.

In 2018, Rachel’s immense love found a home in her husband, partner and closest friend. She had found her person to share in the joys of laughter, love and happiness. Magically, they packed a lifetime of vibrance and passion into five years and together were a beacon of light and strength to guide and support each other on their life’s journey.

A proud Montana girl from the start, Rachel was born on March 5, 1981, in Billings, MT, to Patsy Stewart Coleman and Roger L. Maki. She moved from Billings to Missoula at age eight with her sisters and mother, where she adopted a new father and brother. From then on, more came to be dear friends, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, father and mother and finally nieces and nephews, who will forever more remember her as Aunt Rachel and RaRa. 

In her passing, she has reunited with her infant brother, Roscoe Henry Maki, grandparents, Henry and Edna Maki and Robert and June Stewart, her Dad, Gary Coleman, and her Father, Roger L. Maki. The culmination of Lance and Rachel’s love in their 2021 pregnancy will now, forever, be in her arms.

With our love, 

Rachel’s family