Ellen Eckert, 76

Ellen Eckert, 76, passed away Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at her Kalispell residence.

Ellen was born July 10, 1929, in Brown County, S.D., to Fred and Mary Jerke Irion. She was raised in Ellendale, N.D.

Ellen married William F. Eckert in 1951, in Ellendale. She went to work for American Telephone and Telegraph, for which she worked as a supervisor for 30 years.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, and one son, Brad Eckert.

She is survived by her husband, William Eckert, of Kalispell; a son, Jerome Eckert, of Littleton, Colo.; a daughter, Marina Sears, of Aledo, Texas; one brother, Johnny Irion; two sisters, Goldie Reinke and Erma Pinson; grandchildren, Jesse Boster, Christopher Sears, Karee Vogl, David Sears, Matt Eckert, Jeremy Eckert, Camile Sears and Jeff Sears; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with Pastor Ray Davis officiating. Burial will be afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.