Sharon Lee Ille

Sharon Ille passed away comfortably on October 12, 2025, after a series of health challenges over the last year and a half. Sharon was born to Charles and Ruby Daniels in Sidney, Montana on February 28, 1940, as their youngest daughter. She grew up on a dryland wheat farm north of town and graduated from Sidney High School in 1957. Sharon often talked fondly of growing up on a farm, especially the time she spent with her older sister Mary. After high school, she attended Eastern Montana College where she received both her bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degrees in counseling.

Sharon worked as an educator for thirty-eight years both in the classroom as a teacher and as a guidance counselor. After teaching briefly in Terry and Glasgow, she spent the remainder of her career in the Billings Public Schools. As a counselor, she worked especially diligently for the students who often struggled due to their socio-economic status. She retired in 2002. She considered teaching to be a calling and would talk endlessly about the importance of the profession and it was by far her proudest professional accomplishment. She also believed that educators deserved respect and dignity in their chosen profession and was proud member of the Billings Education Association.

After retiring, Sharon remained active volunteering and supporting various causes. She volunteered on many campaigns for local politicians, especially for female candidates. Sharon continued her support for education and sponsored an endowed scholarship at Montana State University-Billings. She was a long-time board member of the Yellowstone County Council on Aging, later the Adult Resource Alliance. Sharon was a voracious lifelong reader and during her retirement she belonged to a book club that read literally hundreds of books on various topics. Her love of books was so great that she sponsored a category at the High Plains Book Festival for many years. Throughout her life Sharon loved cats, but in her last years she doted on and showered affection on her cats Felicia and later Daisy.

Most importantly, Sharon was a loving mother who loved her son Jon unconditionally and provided support for him no matter the situation. She made great sacrifices financially and emotionally to help him from childhood to well into adulthood.

Sharon’s family would like to thank Synergy Home Care and Canyon Creek Memory Care Community for the care and assistance they both provided for her during the last year and a half.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Ruby, her brother Frank (Bud), and sisters Lurine, Eileen, and Betty. She is survived by her sister Marion and her son Jon, along with many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary at a future date and an announcement will be made beforehand. Sharon’s ashes will be buried at the East Lone Butte Cemetery near her birthplace.