Elaine Roos, age 106, of Miles City, formerly of Terry, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2017 at her home in Miles City.
On May 9, 1911, Elaine was born in Glendive to Patrick and Jane McGovern, the oldest of six girls and one boy. At one-month old, her Dad took Mother and baby home in a lumber wagon to the homestead tarpaper shack, 14 by 18 feet, 25 miles west of Glendive. The trip from Glendive took two long days.
Water used for drinking and cooking had to be packed to the house by bucket from a spring in the canyon down by the barn. Also, there was a large cistern on the back porch to collect rainwater. She remembers her Dad hauling wet snow in the spring of the year to help fill the cistern.
The root cellar kept potatoes over until spring and other perishables were also stored there. Elaine walked to school about two miles from home. The school was the social center of the community. School was in session 6 or 7 months of the year (depending on funds), except first and second grades went 3 months in the summer.
Elaine graduated from Dawson County High School 87 years ago. She attended Teachers’ College in Dillon for a year and then taught 4 years in the Union community. After 3 years of courtship, Elaine married Joe Roos on May 23, 1936, followed by a big wedding dance at Union Hall.
They rented a farm near Roos’ and then moved to the Roos homestead in 1941 after Joe’s father’s death. They farmed and ranched there until 1976 when they moved to their home in Terry. Elaine moved to the Eagles’ Manor in July of 2012.
Elaine was very active in the Catholic Church, had a strong faith, and volunteered 41 years of continuous service there, some of which included washing alter cloths until they sparkled. She spent numerous hours at the Prairie County Museum and was a 4-H leader for several years.
Between family gatherings, church functions, community center activities and dancing, Elaine had little loafing time. She preferred it that way—no boredom for her. She crocheted doilies for family and friends.
Her husband; parents; one brother, Gerald; and three sisters, Lucile, Grace and Ruth, preceded Elaine in death.
She is survived by two daughters and one son: Delores (Chris) and their four children: Delite (Darren) Dukart, Clark Cameron, Twila (Craig) Lunde and Connie Cameron; Patricia (Francis) Dobrowski in Reno and their two children: Michael (Pam) and Teresa (Rick) Connell and John (JoAnne) and sons Mark (Gina) and Todd.
She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren: Dani (Tim) Hudson, Tate, Tel and Annika Lunde, Matthew and Andrew Dobrowski, and Nathan and Riley Connell and one great-great-grandson, Coy Hudson. Also, sisters Helen Granmoe and Mary Slagsvold survive.
A Rosary and Vigil Service was held on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 6 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church in Terry. Burial following immediately at the family plot in the Prairie County Cemetery. Lunch will follow in the Parish Hall basement.
Should friends desire, memorials might be made to Prairie Community Hospital Foundation Endowment Fund, 409 Bowen Street or PO Box 66, Terry, MT 59349 or to the charity of one’s choice.