Ellen Brinkerhoff, 100
Ellen Charlotte Brinkerhoff (Miller) passed away Aug. 23, 2024, peacefully in her sleep. She had recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends.
Ellen was born July 5, 1924, to Charlotte (Lottie) and Jacob Albert (Bert) Brinkerhoff. She was raised on a family farm in Deer Park with her two older brothers, Donald and John. She had an older half-brother, Roy Brinkerhoff, who also grew up in the Flathead Valley. Ellen graduated from Deer Park Elementary School in 1938 and Flathead High School in 1942. She went to nursing school at Montana State College in Bozeman and graduated in 1946, just after WWII. Ellen went to work in Billings, got married and had her son, Robb, a few years later. They returned to Kalispell in the early 1950s, where Ellen remained the rest of her life.
She was a registered nurse for over 40 years. Most of her nursing career was with the practice of Maurice E.K. Johnson M.D. in Kalispell, where she earned her radiology certification and was lab technician as well. When she retired, her friends noted Dr. Johnson had to hire three replacement staff to cover her workload.
Ellen was a longtime parishioner at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and enjoyed volunteer work at its school. She had many lifelong friends in the St. Matts community, including Kathy Britton, Peggy Schaeffer, Sister Judy Lund, Sister Roxanne Dolak and many others who may remember her as Ellen Miller.
She enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, gardening, power walking and huckleberry picking. Ellen and her son, Robb, went on many trips to Glacier Park and the North Fork with their gear, a dog and bicycles in tow. She loved animals and adopted many happy dogs and cats into her home; each had their own personality and uniqueness, which she accommodated with great care and love. BlackJack, Sammy and Yeti are names many of us fondly remember as part of her family.
Like many of her generation, Ellen, was hard-working, devoted to her Catholic faith, her family and her friends. She loved to read, a passion she continued well into her 90s. Ellen was smart, quit-witted and had a playful (yet razor-sharp) sense of humor. In her later years, she shared wonderful stories of growing up in the Flathead Valley during the Depression. Old Pop, the family draft horse, was the subject of a few gems, which we will never forget. We will never forget you, Ellen, and the lovely memories you shared and created in this life. Rest in Peace.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Donald (1945 WWII-Germany) and John (2017 Columbia Falls), and half-brother, Roy (1975 Tacoma, Washington).
She is survived by her son, Robb Miller (Bozeman) and three grandchildren, Jake, Noah and Analiese; also, by her nieces, Alice Sol and Coleen Anderson, and nephews, Don and Greg Brinkerhoff.
The family would like to expressly thank Ellen’s special friend and special angel, Kathy Britton, for her devoted friendship and loving care of Ellen for so many years. Ellen was always happy to see Kathy and her dog, Deuphy, on their near daily visits. Kathy literally took care of Ellen’s every need, including caring for her elderly cat, Yeti, when Ellen no longer could. Thank you to Don Brinkerhoff and his family for helping Ellen when they were neighbors for many years. Thank you, to Sister Judy Lund for her friendship and help with Ellen’s services. Lastly, thank you to Kalispell Rehab and Nursing for their care of Ellen over these past few years.
Memorial services will be held Sept. 6, 2024, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church; 10 a.m. viewing and prayer; 11 a.m. funeral; graveside services following at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 601 1st Avenue West, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 752-6788.
Glacier Memorial Gardens, 2659 U.S. Highway 93 North, Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 752-2832.
