Hamilton – Ellen M. Schilke, 84, of Hamilton passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at the Discovery Care Centre in Hamilton. She was born April 26, 1932 in Ismay, Montana and moved to Corvallis in 1935. Ellen attended school in Corvallis and graduated with the class of 1950. Later she went to the Vo-Tech in Missoula and studied business and becoming a Nurses Aide.
Ellen worked for Mountain Bell from April 1952 to June 1983. She started in Hamilton on switchboard until the office went to dial in 1965. She also worked in Missoula on switchboard, the test center, was the plant clerk for five service foremen and at the time of her retirement was working as clerk for construction maintenance. After she retired, Ellen worked as a bookkeeper for Big Sky Trailer Village.
Ellen married George E. Roth on November 20, 1950 and they later divorced. She married Edward W. Schilke on January 9, 1987 and they remained together until Edward passed away in 1998.
Ellen was a member of Faith Lutheran Church. In addition, she belonged to the Rocky Mountain Grange, Bitterroot VFW Auxiliary #1430, a Past President of the Auxiliary of FOE #1693, a member of the Bitter Root Valley Dusters and the Telephone Pioneers Organization. Her hobbies included sewing and gardening.
Ellen is survived by her son, Michael Roth; grandson, Tyler Roth; sisters, Cecelia Ohl and her husband Glenn and Patricia Perry and her husband Earl; brother, John F. “Jack” Riley; stepchildren, David France and wife Susan, Linda Potts, and Kelly Schilke and wife Susan; and numerous step-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Schilke; both parents, George and Theresa Riley; and two brothers, Rolla and Roy Riley.
Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Daly Leach Chapel with Pastor Brenda Satrum officiating. There will be a reception following in the funeral home’s community room. Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel.
The family suggests memorials to the Marcus Daly Memorial Hospice of the Bitterroot, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton MT 59840.