Ellen Gardner

Ellen Gardner, 92, died on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006 at the Libby Care Center.

She was born on June 22, 1913 near Macaha on the Musselshell River in a soddy house to William and Pearl Davies Dundom. She was the youngest of 7 children. Her father died when she was 8 months old and her mother remarried and had 11 more children. Ellen was educated in Roy and Ingomar, graduating from high school in 1931.

Ellen helped move stock from Wennitt to Moore where she met her husband Charles "Hap" Gardner. They were married December 28, 1932. They lived on a ranch on Beaver Creek in the Snowy Mountains south of Lewiston for 20 years. They bought a ranch east of Trout Creek in 1953 where she lived until 2000 when she became a resident at the Libby Care Center.

Her parents, 17 brothers and sisters and two grandsons preceded her in death.

Survivors include her children LaDonna Mack and husband Vernie of Libby; Charles Gardner and his wife Janis of Trout Creek; Marilyn Lacy amd her husband Wayne of Roby, Texas; Doris Eichert amd her husband Marvin of Hagerman, Idaho; 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren amd 7 great, great grandchildren.

A private family service will take place at the Whitepine Cemetery at a later date. Local arrangements are by the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Libby.