June "Elaine" Wood

June "Elaine" Wood, age 93, died peacefully in her sleep Aug. 9, 2012, at Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings.

She was born June 12, 1919, in Miles City to Leslie and June Wood Bell. Her parents and their two other children, Bill and Mary Sue, lived on a ranch near Broadus. During the Depression they moved to town where Elaine graduated as the salutatorian of her high school class. She received her nursing degree at Columbus Nursing School in Great Falls.

During World War II, she served her country as an officer in the U.S. Army stationed at a hospital in London caring for the troops wounded during the D-Day invasion. After the war ended Elaine returned to Miles City and worked at the Holy Rosary Hospital. She continued her nursing career at the Veterans Hospital, where she retired after 35 years. In 1983 she moved to Billings to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Michele Wilcox, who lives in Billings, and her son, John (Venetta Morger) Wood, who lives in The Woodlands, Texas. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Leslie Taft, who lives in Billings; granddaughter Christina Hueske, who resides in Olympia, Wash.; granddaughter Tenley (Ken) Huste, who lives in Spring, Texas; and grandson 2nd Lt. Morgan Wood, who resides in Fort Rucker, Ala.; as well as seven great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 17, at Smith Funeral Chapel, 925 S. 27th St., in Billings, and her ashes will be laid to rest near Broadus.

Elaine Wood