Rita Chretien, a Nazarene from British Columbia, Canada, was found alive yesterday in Nevada after going missing with her husband, Albert, on March 19.

Albert's whereabouts are still unknown at this time.

Hunters in Elko Country, Nevada, found Rita alive Friday around 4 p.m., Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Dan Moskaluk told CTV News-British Columbia. She was with the couple's 2000 Chevy Astro van on a forest service road at the time, and was able to identify herself.

Albert, 59, and Rita, 56, members of the Penticton, B.C., Church of the Nazarene, stopped in Baker City, Oregon, the day they left British Columbia for a trade show in Las Vegas. Police had security camera footage of the Chretiens buying gas at a convenience store on March 19, but they never reached their destination and made no contact with family or friends.

The Chretiens used their credit card to pay for the gas, which is the last active purchase on their credit cards, and their bank accounts and cell phones remained inactive, police said.

Investigators followed dozens of leads and police, friends, and family searched most of eastern Oregon but found no trace of couple.

Two weeks ago the Baker City Police and RCMP scaled back their search for the couple, suspending telephone tip lines dedicated to the search.

As it turns out, the couple left Baker City and took back roads toward Las Vegas to take in the scenery. They became stuck in some mud on a service road in Nevada and were unable to dislodge the vehicle.

After being stranded for three days, Albert left on foot to get help, leaving Rita with the van.
 
She survived 49 days in the wilderness by eating snow, Rita's son, Raymond Chretien, told The Oregonian. Reports in the following days said she had some trail mix with her that she ate and passed the time journaling, reading her Bible and other books, and praying.

She reportedly lost 30 pounds, but was in good condition when found. The hunters tried to give her food, but she was unable to keep anything down.

Rita was airlifted to a hospital and was well enough to speak to her son by telephone Friday evening. Family members immediately left for Nevada to see her.

"We're stunned," Raymond told The Oregonian. "We haven't fully digested it. This is a miracle."  

Rita was not optimistic about her husband's fate.

"He didn't have shelter," Raymond said. "It's her belief that he didn't make it."

Because of unfavorable weather conditions, an immediate search for Albert was delayed Friday until dawn Saturday morning.

Law enforcement is encouraged now that they know the specific area in which to search after spending weeks scouring thousands of miles by air, vehicle, and on foot.

Albert's sister, Lorraine Hoving, told CTV she was blown away when she heard the news.

"I'm still trying to process it because it's just unbelievable that anybody could survive for seven-and-a-half weeks. Words can't even describe what I'm feeling now," Hoving said.

"Rita is just a wonderful, nurturing mother ... To hear this news just before Mother's Day is a miracle."

"Pray for Albert," Hoving said on a Facebook page devoted to the search for Rita and Albert. "We can still believe for another miracle for Albert; we will not give up hope. What a Mother's Day for Rita's boys! Still overcome with emotion, thank you, God!"