Elaine Dorthy Pavich

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, Elaine Dorthy Pavich, 94 years young and a resident of Billings for decades, serenely left this life to be with Jesus.

Elaine was born in Ellendale, Minnesota, on Feb. 1, 1925. Her family farmed land in Minnesota, where she helped on the farm along with her six brothers and three sisters.

At 20 years old, Elaine married John Pavich, on June 23, 1945 in Billings. The couple was married for 72 years when John passed away in 2016. They were often seen sitting on their front porch holding hands and admiring all the beautiful flowers she spent so many hours tending to. In addition to gardening, Elaine loved decorating and used her abundant talent to paint and refurbish furniture into beautiful one of a kind pieces. Her talents transformed their beloved family home into a little dollhouse that was the vibrant center for so many family gatherings. Sadly, their treasured home burned down on Christmas Eve several years ago. Rebuilt by family within a year, it brought Elaine great joy to help design and live in a new home. She and John loved to sit upstairs with the windows open and watch the planes land on the rims.

Elaine is survived by her four daughters: Sharon Petersen, Dianne (Jim) Wilcox, Faye Degenhart, and Shirley Raycraft, and her grandchildren: Dyan Cade, Stewart Doyle, Lyon Doyle, Jason Wilcox, Angie Eldridge, Christopher Wilcox, Jonathan Degenhart, Andrea Arredondo, Sarah Gierow, and Amy Terrien. They have 32 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

We were blessed beyond measure to have Grandma with us for 94 years. You were the rock and cherished centerpiece of our family and a true example of faith in action. Your devotion to your daughters and all the generations that followed will be carried in our hearts by each one of us.

Elaine's funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, at Smith's Downtown Chapel, 925 S. 27th St. in Billings. Graveside services will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 1721 Central Ave. Reception to follow.