Eliene Mary Gridley

Eliene Mary Gridley, 96, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, July 2, 2013, of natural causes at Timber Creek Village, where she had resided for the past year.

Rosary will be recited at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls on Friday, July 12, at 7 p.m.  Her funeral Mass will be held at St. Richard's on Saturday, July 13, at 1 p.m., with Father John Miller officiating.  In accordance with her wishes, interment will follow at a later date in Highland Cemetery at Havre.

Eliene was born on Sept. 30, 1916, on a homestead at Fresno, Mont., to Nick and Mary (Lammerding) Schend. The family moved to Havre in 1923 and she attended grade school at St. Jude Thaddeus School and graduated from Havre High School in 1935. Eliene worked as a waitress in Havre before marrying Miles L. Gridley in February 1941. They made their home in Havre, where Miles worked for the Great Northern Railroad prior to his death in 1976.

Eliene was very active in St. Jude Thaddeus Altar Society and Catholic Daughters of America in Havre, and was a member of St. Richard Parish in Columbia Falls. Her hobbies included volunteer work, reading, needlework and knitting.  She always loved a party and never missed a chance to spend a holiday or special event with her family and friends. In her younger years she enjoyed fishing and camping in the Bear Paw Mountains.

Eliene moved from Havre to Columbia Falls in 2000, to be nearer to her cousin, Ken Ausk, and other family members, and with their help she was able to maintain her own apartment and to live independently until she was almost 95. "Auntie," as she was known to her family, was always cheerful, kind and patient no matter what life dealt her.  She was a terrific cook and baker and was always willing to share her knowledge of gardening, flowers, cooking, canning, and the Catholic faith and traditions.

Mrs. Gridley was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and brothers, Bernard and Henry.

Survivors include Ken and Phyllis Ausk, Columbia Falls; Ralph, Keni and Taylor Hopkins of Columbia Falls; Tom and Theresa Kolczak of Columbia Falls; Wade and Susan Hodgson of Calgary, Alberta; Brandy Hodgson and family of Didsbury, Alberta; Kyle Hodgson and family of Calgary, Alberta; David and Colleen Schend and family of Spokane, Wash .; Janet Fisler and family of Snohomish, Wash .; Frances Sommars of Kalispell; Vince and Toby Allan and family of Columbia Falls; Kathy and Tyrell Lundman of Missoula and New York City and other family and friends. To send condolences to the family please go to http://www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.