Ellen Carol Bodenberger was born on December 24, 1938 to Ed and Emilda Gately of Walkerville, MT. On March 16, 1963 she married the love of her life Ed Bodenberger.
Ellen graduated from Butte Girl’s Central High School in 1957. She attended Western Montana College in Dillon in 1959 and earned a degree in Teaching. She taught elementary school at Sherman and Hawthorn Elementary Schools.
She gave up her love of teaching to start a family and had four boys, Erik, Eugene, Edward, and Evan. She referred to her family as the 6E’s.
As the boys grew up, she returned to the workforce first as a lunch lady/crossing guard at the Blaine and Kennedy Elementary Schools then as a substitute teacher. Later she helped run the family business and took Winner Circle photos at horse races around the state of Montana. She also worked at Ben Franklin’s and the Forest Service.
In the 80’s she served as a member of the town counsel for the Town of Walkerville and was very proud to be a Walkerville girl.
She was a member of the Butte Amateur Radio Club, serving as an office of the club on multiple occasions. She held a Technician Plus license with the call sign of WB7SIU.
She was a fan of animals and always had a family dog. She enjoyed all of nature’s wildlife that Walkerville offers and would regularly “visit” the yard.
Ellen is preceded in death by her parents Ed and Emilda Gately of Walkerville and sister and brother-in-law Carol (Lyle) Skiff, of Milwaukee.
Ellen is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ed Bodenberger, her sons Erik, Gene (Lisa), Edward J, and Evan (Mary), her brother Ed (Helen) Gately of Spokane. She has 7 nieces and nephews, 7 grand kids, and 3 great-grand kids.
Ellen has been cremated and per her wishes there will not be a funeral. Instead, she asked for a summertime Celebration of Life with family and friends.
A special thank you to the staff on the 3rd and 5th floors, and in the ICU at St. James Hospital.
Please see below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Ellen. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Ellen and her family.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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