Montgomery, Elaine Ruth 1936-2021

MONTGOMERY, BITTNER, VAN GORP, MILLIGAN, STRICKLAND, JENSEN, PADGETT, SCHMIDT, UPCHURCH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/7/2021 at 11:09:53

Elaine Montgomery
Baxter, Iowa
November 23, 1936 - October 2, 2021

Elaine Ruth Montgomery, 84, of Baxter, Iowa passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Newton Healthcare surrounded by her loving family. A private family burial service will take place on October 22, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Elaine was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on November 23, 1936 to John and Mamie (Van Gorp) Bittner. She grew up in Oskaloosa and graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1954. She married the love of her life Melvin Montgomery on April 8, 1956 at the 1st Christian Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The couple farmed together later moving to Haverhill then rural Baxter, Iowa to farm. They moved into the town of Baxter in the 1960's and remained in there until 2020 when they moved to Newton Health Care Center.

Elaine worked alongside her husband on the farm for many years and then helped out at the Baxter Sale Barn Country Side restaurant, Baxter Nursing Home as the Activity Director until retirement. She then became the Baxter City Librarian. Over her lifetime she was very active. She was a 4-H leader, 4-H superintendent at the County Fair, and community where she loved to help with the community Thanksgiving Dinners and taking community members to appointments and events of the clubs she was involved in. She would help with events donating her time or contributing in any way that was helpful. Over her life time she was a member of the CB Club, Square-dancing Club, Garden Club, and Quilt Club. Her church was very important to her. She was always very active in her church communities as well. She taught Sunday school and was a youth leader in the churches she attended over her lifetime. She was also a singer in the Good Gospel singers and traveled singing at various churches, nursing homes and fairs. In her spare time she loved traveling with her husband Melvin, often taking along friends, socializing and going out to eat with friends, cross stitching, embroidering, quilting, sewing, painting ceramics, crafting, and gardening. Most important was spending time with her family.

Those left to cherish her loving memory are her husband Melvin Montgomery of Newton, IA; daughters Christie (Mark) Milligan of Baxter, IA, and Marsha (Rick) Strickland of Baxter, IA; grandchildren Ashley (Brent) Jensen, Brandon (Megan) Milligan, Kristi (Scott) Padgett, Kip (Tiffany) Strickland, Travis (Alicia) Schmidt, and Troy (Angela) Schmidt; 17 great-grandchildren; sister Edna (Steve) Upchurch of South Carolina; brothers-in-law Robert (Diane) Montgomery of Colorado, and Richard (Sue) Montgomery of Arizona; many nieces; and many nephews. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a future memorial in the community in her honor. Fredregill Funeral & Cremation Care has been entrusted with the cremation care of Elaine and her family.

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Events

There are no events scheduled. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of Elaine Montgomery. ~ The Fredregill Funeral Home, Baxter, Iowa 02 Oct 2021.