Sarah Elizabeth Ann Collins

FRENCHTOWN — With the recent passing of Sarah Elizabeth Ann Collins, 79, on Jan. 29, 2005, she joins her husband Frank William Collins, who preceded her in death on Nov. 9, 1999.

She was born on March 7, 1925, in Philly (Lamar County), Texas. She was the daughter of Murphy "Bart" Russell and Maggie Crowford-Thompson of South Carolina by way of Arkansas. She met Frank who was a staff sergeant serving in the Army Air Force in Amarillo during the war. They married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1945, in Amarillo.

Elizabeth graduated as salutatorian of her high school graduating class. Afterwards, she went on to become a cosmetologist. A woman of many talents she sang on stage in the opera house in Clarendon, Texas, where she also yodeled. Elizabeth and Frank also enjoyed dancing together at the USO. Some of her favorites were roses, sunsets, learning of the different constellations, collecting coins and stamps. She was a devoted lady of family and her Creator.

Frank was born in Minneapolis on Sept. 13, 1914, and raised in South Dakota. In 1942 he was inducted in the Air Force Technical Training Command. He became a instructor for B-17 mechanics. When the B-29 bomber entered service Frank also became an instructor for flight engineers.

Immediately after WWII Frank and Elizabeth made their home in South Dakota where he became a teacher and she was the cook in a one-room school house at the Four Bear Indian Day School located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Frank continued his education in Aberdeen, S.D., eventually receiving his degree from Montana State College. He later received his Master's degree from the University of Montana. They moved to Frenchtown, in the fall of 1953, where he taught high school until the age of 73 when he retired.

Like most teachers, families they worked in the summer at other jobs, Frank started working in 1939 driving a tour bus for Yellowstone Park Co. and in the winter working at Sun Valley, Idaho. After the war they returned back during the summers months to work for the Yellowstone Park Co. at the Gallatin Gate Way Inn in Mt.; Cody, Wyo., and West Yellowstone. Both worked summers as transportation agents in Yellowstone starting in 1949. Their last year in the park was 1979.

They leave behind their children: Louise Ann (Collins) Markley-Shourds and her husband Roger Lee Shourds of Polson (Turtle Lake), Frankie Collins-Lubin and husband Chris of Seattle; son-in-law Chester Rhoads Markley, Jr. of Lostine, Ore.; grandchildren, Frank Nicholas Markley of Lake Oswego, Ore.; and Gretchen Louise Ann Markley of McMinnville, Ore.; great-grandchildren, Audrey and Alexander; grandson, Roger Aotsugu Shourds of Missoula; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Father Drew Maddock of St. Ignatius Mission Church conducted graveside services and was assisted by the Salish Indian Choir; Octave Finley of Pablo; Stanley Healy Smallsalmon of Ronan and Gordan Fyant of Polson. Father Drew Maddock and the Salish Indian Choir also conducted a Rosary with songs and prayers at the Lily of the Valley Adult Foster Home in Pablo where Elizabeth was last living.

Foster and Durgeloh Funeral Home assisted the family with all the arrangements.

With all of her family present, Frank's Annie was laid to rest next to him on Jan. 30, 2005.