Obituaries for Jan. 27

Elsie passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on January 20, 2010. She was born on July 17, 1916 in Missoula, MT to Neilina and Frank MacIntosh. Her Scottish heritage was very important to her and she made sure that everyone who knew her was aware that she was a MacIntosh.

After growing up in Missoula and graduating from the University of Montana, with a Bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology, Elsie taught for awhile and then became a social worker and earned a Master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Her first position in social work was with the Red Cross during World War II.

While working for the Red Cross she met George Hanson of Superior, MT and they were married in Great Falls in 1945. They lived in Bozeman while George attended MSU and returned to Superior in 1946 where she worked as town clerk for the Superior City Council. During this period she also was selected to serve on the Montana State Board of Health.

An avid learner throughout her life, Elsie had a passion for literacy and returned to the University of Montana to earn another Master’s degree in education with a focus in reading; she taught in Superior for 20 years and later in life it was a joy to hear from her former students and colleagues. Her advocacy for literacy, meeting the needs of children at all achievement levels and higher education touched the lives of many generations of students in Superior. Her community service extended beyond school grounds: she was a founding member of the Child-Study Club (the precursor to public kindergarten), and a strong proponent of the Superior swimming pool and Mineral County Hospital. She was a very active member of Trinity Lutheran Church (Superior) and Valley of Christ Lutheran Church (Frenchtown) and also taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. Her faith and religious affiliation were integral aspects of her daily life and community service.

She remained in Superior until her husband, George, passed away in 1989, after which she returned to Missoula and continued to be active in the local school community, volunteering at Mount Jumbo Elementary School. She was also a very active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where she eventually met Arthur Roe. Elsie and Art married in 1997 and truly enjoyed one another’s companionship until he passed away in 2006. In 2007 she moved to Spokane, WA to be closer to her children. She resided at Emilie Court and attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church until her death.

Elsie and George had three children: Bill, Jonathan and Margaret, who were all raised in Superior, and she was blessed with five grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, her brother James F. MacIntosh Jr., her husband George Hanson and Arthur Roe, and her son Bill Hanson. She is survived by her son, Jonathan (Mickey), her daughter Margaret Cope; her daughter-in-law, Carole Hanson (children, John and Laura); her sister-in-law Barbara MacIntosh; her grandchildren, Ronee Francis (Hugh), Anne Haveron (Kevin), Andrew Hanson (Debbie), Libby Cope and Alex Cope (Jessica); and nephews Jim (Sharon), Don (Tina), Frank (Anne) MacIntosh and niece Kim (Lance) Reed. Also surviving her are her greatgrandchildren: Ciaran and Lydia Francis; Sam, Declan and Finley Haveron; and Emily Neader, George and Henry Hanson.

Services will be held at Valley of Christ Lutheran Church in Frenchtown on Monday, January 25 at 1:00p.m.; a burial will follow at Superior Cemetery. Donations in memory of Elsie Hanson-Roe can be made to the American Red Cross to aid in Haitian relief efforts.

Jeannette E. Meredith, 85, died Sunday, January 17 at Hunters Glen Assisted Living in Missoula. She was born June 27, 1924 in Fairfield, WA. to Robert and Anna Kruger Ostheller, Sr.

She grew up and attended schools, in Fairfield. After high school she attended Kinman Business University in Spokane and went to work for the Spokane Flour Mill. She met Wayne Meredith in Spokane. They were married June 27, 1948 in Fairfield and made their home in Pullman, Wa. They came to Montana around 1956 and have been here since. Jeannette was a past member of the Rebekahs, loved to garden and raise her flowers. She looked forward to her grandchildren, huckleberry picking, fishing, and the outdoors. She was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Anna Ostheller, a brother, Robert, two sisters; Elsie Knight and Ethel Spielman. She is survived by her husband, Wayne of Missoula, son Stan (Patsy) of Plains, and daughter Eileen Turk (Ron) of Thompson Falls. Five Grandchildren; Ronda Turk of Boise, ID, Travis Turk of Missoula, Eric Meredith of Helena, Keith Meredith (Cora) of Kalispell, Kevin Meredith (Marlee) of Plains,two great-grandchildren; Taryn and Cooper and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Plains United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Plains Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Plains United Methodist Church. Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Plains is entrusted with the arrangements.