Elsie Ming

Elsie Eileen Ming (93) passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 3rd with two of her sons by her side. Born September 1, 1924, in Saint Thomas Ontario Canada, she was raised with two sisters – Jean and Alice and one brother – Doug. Elsie worked behind the counter in the cosmetics department at Woolworths Department Store. During this time, she won numerous beauty pageants as she was a natural beauty and always took great pride in her appearance.

Elsie enjoyed dancing and would spend countless nights at the local dance hall. During World War II, several servicemen would frequent the same dance hall, but it was one lucky Army man that stole Elsie’s heart. In 1945 she married Bill Ming and they had four sons, Doug, Robert (Deceased), David, and Shawn were born to this union. Elsie was a stay at home mom. Growing up during the depression she believed in saving and repurposing everything. She loved to garden, and she was an amazing cook with the ability to turn nothing into something. However, it was her made from scratch warm French bread with homemade raspberry jam that was a specialty and most coveted by her family.

Elsie and her husband Bill were longtime members of the Eagles Lodge in downtown Bozeman. For many years they could be found on the dance floor where it was like the red sea as the crowd would part as they were mesmerizing to watch. After WWII, Bill became a talented brick mason. His work took them all over northwest Montana before settling in Bozeman where they would raise their children and watch their grandchildren grow. In 1989, Elsie was proud to become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.

The hardest part of living a long and full life is that sometimes you outlive most of your family and friends. Bill passed away in 1997, leaving Elsie widowed for 21 years. As she joins her soulmate in heaven she leaves behind her three sons, Doug of Portland, Oregon; David and Shawn, both of Bozeman; two granddaughters Jennifer Ming of Portland, Oregon, and Ashley Salmon of Bozeman; 2 grandsons Kyle and Tanis and 2 great-grandsons Oliver and Ellis. She will forever be loved and remembered.