Ellwood Al Stratton, 93

Our husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend Ellwood Al Stratton, 93, left us peacefully at The Heritage Place in Kalispell on March 12, 2010. Though of average height, he cast a tall shadow with his strong yet gentle guidance and support of family, friends and even strangers, whose lives he touched. He was born the sixth of eight children to Frank and Minnie (Geery) Stratton on Dec. 29, 1916, in Unionville, Mo. When Ellwood was six months old the family moved to eastern Montana, where they lived in Chinook, Havre, and Landusky, before settling in the Flathead Valley. As a young boy, he drove a team of horses delivering wood in the Kalispell area, and later joined his father and brothers in the woods as a logger. In 1942 in Seattle, Ellwood married his girl from Kalispell, Frankie Hillis. He worked as a welder in the Seattle shipyards, and later joined the Army, serving stateside during World War II. After the war, they returned to the Flathead where he supported his family as owner of a sawmill, and as a master welder, working on the building of Hungry Horse Dam. He also worked at Westmont Tractor and on road construction. Ellwood was a self-taught handyman, and always eager to offer a helping hand to anyone. He built his home in Evergreen with logs cut by his own hands. In 1961 Ellwood and Frankie moved to Dillon to work on the Clark Canyon Dam project, leaving in 1964 to follow road construction, before settling in Missoula. Ellwood officially retired, then moved to Dillon in 1977, and began a second career as a self-employed welder, doing custom work until the age of 85. Ellwood and Frankie worked side by side for 67 years raising their two daughters, and were always there to lend a hand, a shoulder or an ear to their girls, their friends and a large extended family. He was active in the Presbyterian Church in Dillon. Keenly aware of those in need, they formed Helping Hands, quietly gathering goods, funds and emotional support for countless people. Ellwood was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Boyd, Jed, Buck and Eugene; and sisters, Audrey and Orminta. The memories of Ellwood will be forever cherished by those who survive him; his wife, Frankie; his brother, Donald, of The Dalles, Ore.; daughters, Susie and Fred Rebish, of Dillon, and Mary and John Semmens, of Polson; grandchildren, Tracey and Kendra Rebish, Kathey and Bob Hupp, Jason and Andrea Semmens, Rachael and Myles Heivilin; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, whom he loved, including Jean and Ron Levang, Norma Williams and Sandy Loveall, who were able to spend the last few years near him; and by a former neighbor, considered family, Donn Bolog, of Bothel, Wash. A special thanks goes to Doretta at Renaissance in Dillon and to the staff of Heritage Place in Kalispell for their kindness and the great care they gave our Dad. Ellwood was a gentle man, a gifted teacher, a loving husband, father and grandfather, and we, his family, are honored to have been a part of his long and faithful life. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Helping Hands Fund, c/o First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 526, Dillon, MT 59725. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Ellwood s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Ellwood s tribute wall.