Elsie Alice Stolem

Elsie Alice (Watson) Stolem, 91, died of natural causes Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at the Phillips County Hospital.

She was born April 30, 1922, to John and Elizabeth (Staples) Watson in Thoeny, Mont. On Jan. 11, 1940, she married Kenneth I. “Bud” Stolem in Glasgow. They farmed and ranched near Hinsdale until 1996 when they retired and moved to Malta to be near their children.

Her greatest accomplishment was sharing her love through cooking for her family and friends. Her door was always open, along with a fresh cup of coffee and meal for anyone who stopped by. She had an unending love and concern for each family member and would not rest until she knew all were safe.

She enjoyed working on puzzles, watching her birds, and loving her little doggy, “Booties.” She was one of the biggest fans of the Malta M-Ettes and Mustangs. She immensely enjoyed listening to the all basketball and football games. She also kept a very close eye on the University of Montana-Lady Griz basketball.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth I. “Bud” Stolem; four brothers, Jim, Earl, Wesley and Clifford; and four sisters, Viola, Ella May, Wilma and Grace.

Survivors include four daughters, Marilyn Mattfeldt and her husband, Russ, Myrna Cummings and her husband, George, and Myrdis Stolem, all of Malta, and Meredith Marshall of Miami, Fla .; one brother, Wilfred Watson, of Sunny Valley, Ore .; nine grandchildren, Debbie Henderson and her husband, Phillip, Kim Parrow and his wife, Jody, James Marshall and his wife, Susan, Kenneth Marshall, Julie Strobel, Dale Cummings and his wife, Dani, Shane Stolem and his wife, Jacy, Roxanne Stolem, and Angela Luton and her husband, Dan; 16 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Friends of Elsie were invited to join the family in Malta on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., at Kirkwood Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, August 26, in the Hinsdale Lutheran Church, followed by burial in the Hillview Cemetery near Hinsdale. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.