1923− 2018
Missoula – Elsie Buckner passed away on Friday, February 16 in Missoula.
Elsie was born in Fostoria, Ohio where she lived with her father, Everett Brink, a movie projectionist, her mother, Mildred, who worked as a cook, and older sister Zella. After graduating from Fostoria High School, Elsie worked as a telephone operator in Tiffin, Ohio during WWII. Later, she met and married U.S. Marine James Buckner. The couple had four children—Ronald and Dennis (Ohio), Beverly (Montana), and Jeffrey (New York). She worked for many years for the RCA company in Findlay, Ohio.
With her children grown and finding herself single, Elsie moved to Montana in 1979 to live near her beloved daughter Beverly. Elsie fell in love with the beauty of the great state of Montana. She lived her first Montana years in Greenough where she helped operate a small general store and postal service. Eventually she moved to Hamilton where she lived for over 34 years. During her many years in Hamilton, Elsie was employed by the Ravalli County Museum and the Office of Public Assistance. She attended Faith Lutheran Church for many years. In her spare time, she lovingly attended her lush, colorful flower garden—one of her great joys.
Elsie will be remembered fondly as a woman with a quick wit, a strong point of view, and a feisty spirit. She will also be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed music and dancing. She will be missed greatly.
Memories and condolences may be left at the Whitesitt Funeral Home website at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests offering donations in Elsie’s memory to a charitable organization, hospice organization, or Alzheimer’s research group.