Elaine Geraldine 'Scotty' Kjelstrup

Elaine Geraldine "Scotty" (Scott) Kjelstrup, 91, died Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at the Highgate Senior Living in Billings, Mont.

A memorial service will be at First Congregational Church in Glasgow at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12.

She was born in Eureka on Dec. 18, 1921, to Merlin and Addie Scott. She joined a brother, Everett, in the family home, who was a year older.

She grew up in Eureka and graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1939. She attended Montana State College, (now MSU), and met Garold "Jerry" Kjelstrup on a blind date during her second year of college. She majored in home economics, but left college to marry Jerry in Omaha, Neb., in 1941. Jerry graduated in architecture and was drafted into the Army as an engineer during WWII.

Jerry nicknamed Elaine, "Scotty," after her maiden name of Scott. The nickname stuck all through her adult life, and many friends are surprised to hear of her legal name.

She had an interesting life, moving to many locations to be near Jerry until he shipped out to the war. Like many young women during this era when the men were at war, she worked in the lumber mill, as a chauffeur for the military in California and in retail after they moved to Glasgow, where she lived for almost 65 years. During this time her most important and most rewarding job was being a housewife and mother. She loved to try new recipes, entertain, and be involved in the lives of her daughters.

Her last two years were spent in Billings, where she resided in an assisted living community, Highgate. She was especially happy to live where her best friend in Billings, her granddaughter Dana Donovan, worked as a Life Enhancement coordinator. She was also blessed to have Quinn's wife, Alicia, the community relations coordinator in the same facility. She had a lot of attention. Ann Chouinard, a very special friend from Glasgow, also resided at Highgate, so it was easy to be comfortable in her new apartment, although Glasgow would always be her home where she would return to rest.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Merlin and Addie Scott, who lived to be 103; and her life-long husband of 45 years, Jerry, who died in 1986.

Survivors include three daughters, Vicki Kjelstrup, Carla Lehr and her husband, Richard, and Debra Donovan and her husband, Kelly; the loves of her life, Shawna Russell and her husband, Dave, Cara Patrick, Tamara Jell and her husband, Jamie, Quinn Donovan and his wife, Alicia, and Dana Donovan; They also have four great-grandchildren, Callie and Charlie Russell in Arlington, Va., and Jadyn and Liam Jell in Moscow, Idaho.

She loved to travel to visit family and explore new places. She especially enjoyed her last big trip to attend the wedding of her granddaughter, Tamara, in Key West, Fla. Although she did not actually snorkel, she enjoyed the boat ride and watching all the "kids", including her three very grown daughters, enjoy the ocean and the underwater wonders.

Her hobbies included golfing, reading and playing cards. While still living in Glasgow, she had a special foursome bridge group that played cards every Friday, Kae Markle, Lois Markle, Joann Merson and welcomed guest Louise Uphaus.

Memorials are requested to be made to the Ronald McDonald House in Billings.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.