Ella L. Oelke Weber

Ella L. Oelke Weber, age 90, passed away on Sep. 6, at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan.  Ella was born on Dec. 19, 1921 on the family farm, 14 miles north of New Leipzig, North Dakota to parents August & Julianna Oelke.  She was the youngest of the Oelkes’ five children. Both of her parents were children of German immigrants from Bessarabia, Russia who arrived in America prior to 1900.  Ella loved her life on the farm and although she lived in Montana for over 70 years her heart and favorite memories were always back on that farm.  As young as ten years old, Ella had the responsibility during harvest to prepare meals from scratch for the entire thrashing crew along with milking the cows and other chores. During the 1930’s, Ella, her sister and three brothers all formed “The Oelke Band”, where they played at “Farmers Union” dances and on the local radio stations. She was the first of her family alongside her sister Edna to graduate from High School.  At age 18 after graduation from Mott North Dakota High School she moved with her family to Missoula where she was employed at the Thornton Hospital.   In 1941 she met Alfred Weber who she fell in love with, but that courtship was interrupted by World War II.  Alfred was drafted into the Army and served his country in the China Burma India theatre with the 14th Army Air Force “Flying Tigers” as a Military Policeman. During a furlough in 1944, Ella and Alfred decided they could wait no longer and were married on April 27, 1944 in Missoula. They had a short honeymoon at Camas Hot Springs and Alfred was off again to the War.  Alfred was discharged in 1946 and they both, along with their new daughter Janie, began building their home on Sussex Avenue near the old Airport. They started out in a one room temporary building that they moved to their property and lived there for over a year while they worked on and completed their home.  In 1950, their second child, son Ron was born.  In 1961, Ella began work for Osco Drug in Missoula and retired after 20 years.  She lost her only son in an accident in Alaska when he was only 22, a loss that Ella never recovered from.   On December 30, 1990 she also lost her husband Alfred. In 2000 Ella moved to the Missoula Manor where she lived and enjoyed her life and friends for 10 years. In 2010, she relocated to Polson to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Janie and Jim Blodgett. She lived at the St. Joseph assisted living until August 2012, when her health required her to move to the St. Luke Extended Care facility in Ronan.  While living in St. Joseph, she made many great friends and enjoyed her bingo, Kings Corners and especially Wii Bowling. She was a loving and dedicated mother, wife, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Ella was preceded in death by husband, Alfred; son, Ronald; brothers, Otto Oelke, Benny Oelke, Fred Oelke and sister, Edna Sackman.   She is survived by her daughter Janie and husband Jim Blodgett of Polson, grandsons, Jim Blodgett Jr. of Fairbank, Alaska, and Jeff and Debbie Blodgett of Olympia Wash.; great- granddaughters, Jessie, Morgan, Taya, and Teagan; great-grandson, Cody; nephews, Bob and Joanne Sackman of Ovando, and Rod and Kathy Oelke of Missoula; nieces, Darlene Ervin of Salem, OR., Phyllis Focht of Keizer, Ore., Joyce and Mitch Grant of Keizer, Ore., Jan and Mike Lovec  of Baker, and lifelong special friend, Ella Shields of Missoula. A funeral service and visitation was held on Tuesday, Sep. 11, followed by graveside services at the Missoula City Cemetery. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.