Ellen Marie (Berg) Gillespie, 92

On the evening of Friday, March 21, 2025, Ellen Marie (Berg) Gillespie passed away peacefully in her home. Ellen was born in Butte, Montana on December 8, 1933, to Edwin John and Agnes Filimena (George) Berg. Ellen enjoyed growing up in Butte with her sister Dorothy Jean (Dode), who was 10 months younger than her. She always lamented that she could not pick on Dode during the two months of the year that they were the same age.

A highlight of Ellen’s youth was when she and her sister traveled with the Butte High School band to march in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. She graduated from Butte High School in 1951. For a few years following high school, Ellen worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell.

On September 10, 1953, Ellen married her beloved husband Raymond William (Ray) Gillespie and moved to live with him and raise her family on the ranch South of Whitehall that Ray’s grandfather had homesteaded in 1903. Ellen and Ray loved ranch life, raising sheep, pigs, and Hereford cattle. There they raised their four boys, Donald (Don), William (Bill), Ronald (Ron) and Emmett. Part of the rearing of their boys got them involved in 4-H and the two of them helped form the B-Y’s 4-H Club, which is the oldest chartered 4-H club in the state. Ellen helped in 4-H for several years teaching sewing, cake decorating, and many other projects. She always looked forward to the 4-H Junior Rodeo each year in May, as well as the Twin Bridges fair. Many can probably remember being hauled around to different events in the back of her suburban.

Ellen liked to garden and was an avid seamstress and homemaker. She loved to can, make quilts, and decorate cakes. She made numerous wedding and birthday cakes for her family and friends. Ellen was fond of dogs, especially Boston Terriers, which she raised for several years. Most of all, she loved children, especially her boys.

Ellen moved from the ranch in 1993, and Ray lived the last of his years in the Sheridan nursing home, where he passed away on December 14, 1995. Her world was shaken again on October 20, 1997, when her son, Ron died in Wyoming.

After moving off the ranch, Ellen’s love of children led her to become a foster grandma at the Whitehall School where she served in that capacity for 18 years. She thrived on being around the kids and helping them learn and develop. After leaving the foster grandma role, she enjoyed the remainder of her days sewing, canning, crafting, and loving and serving her family and friends. Her door was always open to anyone who wanted to drop by. She loved being surrounded by her boys, her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her walls and refrigerator were covered with pictures of her family, friends and several of the “kids” she had helped as a grandma at the school.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents Edwin and Agnes Berg, her husband Ray, her son Ron, her sister Dode, Dode’s husband Elroy Hunt, her sister-in-law Judy (Gillespie) Stratton, Judy’s husband Bill Stratton, and her nephew Robert (Bob) Hunt.

Ellen is survived by her sons, Don (Bonna) Gillespie, Bill (Wendy Forman), and Emmett (Terri) Gillespie; her grandchildren Samantha (Tony) Vetter, BJ (Kristy) Gillespie, Sherry (Mike) Holt, Roni Lynn (Jim) Simon, Brody (Tia) Gillespie, Derrington (Bri) Gillespie, Deontae (Celeste) Gillespie, Kenisyn Gillespie and Kienna Gillespie; her great-grandchildren Isaac and Aleska Vetter, Peyton Holt, Trenton Gillespie, Braxton Williams, Buster Simon, Raymond and Evie Gillespie, Gideon Gillespie, and Taela Gillespie. She is also survived by the daughter she always wanted, Barb Sunderland, and her husband Bob.

The family would like to express our gratitude to “cousin” Judiann Williams, who played a significant role in Ellen’s care for the past several years. Also, thank you to Honey Bee Hospice and Trek Home Health and Hospice who cared for Mom and tended to her needs.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Montana State 4-H Foundation, your local 4-H club, or the charity of your choice.

A wake will be held at K & L Mortuary in Whitehall on Friday, March 28 at 6 PM. On Saturday, March 29 there will be memorial services and a celebration of life at Saint Teresa’s Church in Whitehall at 10 AM.