Elna Foust

Elna Moe Foust, a woman whose life intertwined with the rivers and mountains of Montana, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024, in her home near where her story began. Born on May 31, 1940, in Hamilton, MT, Elna was the second of four daughters to Carl and Doris Moe, a family rooted in the rugged beauty of the Bitterroot Valley.

Elna worked as a secretary in California. Upon returning to Montana, she took charge of the hot lunch program at Grantsdale Elementary School. Later, she managed the bakery at Fairway Market, where she honed her skills in wedding cake design. But it was alongside her late husband, John Foust, that she found her true calling. Together, they founded Fishaus Tackle, a beautiful fly shop in Hamilton that became a haven for anglers seeking wisdom as much as gear. Their contributions to the fly-fishing world were not limited to the shop; Elna and John brought their passion to the silver screen, working on the set of “A River Runs Through It” alongside Robert Redford and Brad Pitt, a film that celebrated the life that they championed.

Elna first married Bill Thomas in 1960, at a double wedding in Las Vegas. Together, they raised three sons: Billy, Ronnie, and Ricky. In time, Elna found love again with John Foust, whom she married in 1981. The two journeyed up and down the West Coast, their travels as much about spreading the art of fly-fishing as they were about the simple joy of being together. They crafted and sold their own line of fly-fishing products, each one an echo of the streams and rivers they loved so dearly.

The losses of John in 2020 and Bill in 2022 were felt deeply by Elna. Her passion for gardening, nurtured in the same soil that had sustained her family for generations, became her solace. In her garden, she found peace, tending to her flowers with the same care she once gave to her family.

Elna leaves behind two sisters, her three sons, John’s two sons and daughter, and a legacy of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Her presence in the fly-fishing community will be felt long after her passing. She was a woman of the rivers, and her spirit will forever drift along their currents.

A celebration of her life will be announced in due time. Those who wish to send a message to the family or learn more about the celebration may do so by emailing elnafoust@gmail.com.