Clear, 49° F
(July 25, 1927 - April 5, 2013)
Virgil Faye Elton died peacefully early the morning of April 5, 2013 at The Willows St. John’s Assisted living in Red Lodge, Mont. He was 85.
Virgil was born the middle son of Samuel Faye and Audrey Blossom Johnson Elton on July 25, 1927 on Bower flat, near Warren, Mont. It was Virgil’s calling to take care of his family when his father died at an early age. He devoted his life to taking care of “Mom” and Shirley. He was up early in the morning to milk the cow and ride ditch and back to take Mom to town.
He was always on the go making sure Shirley had feed for all her animals and prided himself on paying off the homestead, leaving the farm and putting in cement ditches. All the while, Virgil rode ditch and cat-skinned 40 years for the Deaver Irrigation District.
In later years when his sister, Shirley, resided at the Powell Nursing Home, Virg visited her every day and even brought her homegrown tomatoes from his garden in the window box. He always took her presents and pictures of the new kittens or the latest flower blooming.
Virgil also really looked forward to daily phone calls from his brother, Keith.
Virg prided himself in teasing, arguing and joking with family and friends he cherished the most. His ornery sense of humor could not hide his big heart. When Virg and the men-folk were not hunting, they were talking about hunting.
Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Keith and Gene and sisters, Thelma, Wanita and Shirley. Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Vi (Keith) and Evey (Gene) and numerous nieces and nephews.
He very much appreciated his great niece, Tami (Hazen) Holdsworth, who checked on him daily, making sure he had everything he needed and taking him for rides to look over the country. He was also thankful of his nephew, Randy, who retired to live at the farm so Virg could be home as long as possible. They enjoyed many rides looking at crops, deer, wild horses and mountain sheep.
Funeral services were held at Thompson Funeral Home in Powell on Monday, April 8.
Memorial donations can be made to The Willows St. John’s Lutheran Assisted Living, P.O. Box 2011, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
Thompson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneral.net or P.O. Box 807, Powell, WY 82435.
