Joann Elliott

Joann Elliott passed from this world peacefully to her heavenly home on March 10, 2013. She was surrounded by her family at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Joann is survived by her husband Frank, son Randy (Beth McConnell) and daughter Jan, all of Bozeman. Relatives include Sharon Lee of Forsyth, many nieces and nephews, a grandson and great-grandson. Joann was born in Tacoma, Washington on May 7, 1928, the daughter of Fred and Jennie Amunrud. Because of her mother’s serious illness, Joann spent most of her formative years with her aunt and uncle, Myrtle and Oswald Torgerson in Minot, North Dakota and Livingston, Montana. Joann graduated from Park County High School in 1946 and subsequently was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in their accounting office in Livingston. On September 16, 1950 she married Franklin B. Elliott, an engineering student at Montana State University. Upon his graduation, Joann received her PHT (Put Him Through) and they moved to Redondo Beach, California, where they both worked for North American Aviation until Joann enrolled at El Camino College. She began collecting college credits whenever possible, culminating in a triumphal graduation day when she received her Bachelor’s Degree from Montana State University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude. In 1955, Frank’s work moved them to Layton, Utah, followed by their 1959 move to Mammoth, Wyoming in Yellowstone National Park. Transfers to Shenandoah National Park, Glacier National Park and Yosemite National Park ended with Frank’s semi-retirement to Bozeman in 1979. Joann was active in the Park Service communities as an officer in the Mammoth Ski Club, Sunday School Teacher, President of the Guild and Parent-Teacher Association, swimming and beginning ski instructor. In her spare time she always enjoyed bridge parties, camping and fishing with family and friends. Semi-retired in Bozeman in 1979, she was active in business, political and social circles as a member of the Bridger Ski Club, Independent Insurance Agents, The Landlord Association, Business and Professional Women, Riverside and Valley View Golf Clubs and the First Lutheran Church. A visitation will be held from 9:00-10:00am on Thursday, March 21, 2013 followed by a funeral service at 10:00am, both at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Interment will take place at Sunset Hills Cemetery followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made in Joann’s name for the love her dog to the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 11390, Bozeman, MT 59719 or The Stafford Animal Shelter, 3 Business Park Rd., Livingston, MT 59047.