Nancy Elliot Ford
Nancy Ford passed away on
February 14, 2010, at her home in
Westpark
Village.
She was two weeks shy of her 90th birthday.
Nancy was born on February 29, 1920, in Kalispell, Montana,
to Evelyn and Thomas Elliot. Since she was a Leap Year baby her
parents would have elaborate birthday parties for her every 4 years
that would be written up in the local paper. She was the Elliot's
fourth child and was born much later than her siblings. There was 16
years between her and her oldest brother. One of her fondest
memories was when she was 16 and her brother was old enough to take
her to the World's Fair in Chicago
without her parents.
Nancy was schooled in the Kalispell public school system.
She attended Carleton
College
in Minnesota for 2 years. Wanting a
change, she then transferred to the
University
of Washington where she
graduated in 1942 with a degree in English. During her college years
she was a member of Gamma Phi sorority.
At the University of
Washington Nancy met the man who would be her
husband for 65 years, Jack Ford. They were married in Kalispell in
June of 1942. After their wedding, they lived in
Seattle and worked for Boeing until Jack joined the Army
during WW II. When they were stationed in Grass Valley,
California, in 1945 their first daughter,
Jean, was born. After the war, Nancy and Jack returned to
Montana, settling in Billings where Jack managed Elliot's Furniture. In 1951,
their second daughter, Deborah, was born. Even though the family
lived in Billings, strong ties were always maintained with the
Kalispell area as summer vacations were spent at the Elliot family
home on Flathead Lake.
Nancy worked as a secretary for the Billings Girl Scout
Council for over 10 years. After quitting that job she volunteered
for 10 years as a Pink lady at The Billings Clinic (then Deaconess Hospital).
She was active in the First Congregational Church where she was a
member for over 50 years, playing the piano for the Sunday school
classes and doing other church work. Nancy
was also a long time member of P.E.O. Chapter E in
Billings. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of
two bridge clubs over the years. Nancy enjoyed theater and held season tickets at Alberta
Bair Theater for many years.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, her parents,
two brothers, and one sister. She is survived by her daughter Jean
Dove of Billings; her daughter Deborah Powell (David) of Billings; her grandson Jim Powell (Gloria) of Billings; two great grandchildren, Daniel and Stephanie
Powell of Billings; and one nephew,
Jeffrey Elliot of New York.
Nancy was a great support to her daughters over her life
and she will be greatly missed.
Per Nancy's request, no service is planned. A reception in
Nancy's honor will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from
5-7 p.m.,at the Billings Petroleum Club, 22nd floor of the Crowne
Plaza Hotel. Cremation has taken place and interment will take place
at Conrad Memorial Cemetery
in Kalispell at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Alberta Bair Theater,
P.O. Box 1556, Billings,
MT. 59103 or to the charity of your choice.
Nancy's family would like to thank Irene and the rest of
the staff at
Westpark Village for
the care they gave during this difficult time. Also, thanks to Dr.
Gerstner who cared for Nancy
for many years and to Rocky Mountain Hospice.
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