Elisabeth (Elsie) M. Kern Montgomery

1924 - 2015

Elisabeth (Elsie) M. Kern Montgomery passed away Jan. 4, 2015. She was born June 12, 1924 in the small town of Rockendorf in the Bohemian Forest of Czechoslovakia. She was an only child and lived with her parents, helping them run their County Inn until the end of World War II.

Robert Montgomery was stationed with the U.S. Army on the Czechoslovakian border where they met and later married on Nov. 27, 1948. She returned with him to the U.S. as a war bride. Her husband later continued his military career and she accompanied him to many military posts in the U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Germany for the next 24 years. She also spent two worrisome years alone while Bob served in Vietnam.

Elsie and Bob returned to Bozeman in 1971 to retire and make their home. Elsie enjoyed being a homemaker, loved to dance, play cards, bowl, and grow flowers in her garden. Most of all, she clearly valued the friendship of all her wonderful friends. She also felt great compassion for the many homeless and neglected animals and was an ardent supporter of the Gallatin Valley Humane Society.

Elsie was preceded in death by her father, Laurenz Kern in 1977; her mother, Anna in 1994; and her loving husband, Bob in 2012 after 64 years of a happy marriage.

Survivors include her dear friends, Ed and Maria Chambers of Bozeman, also cousins living in Germany, sister-in-law, Linda Manning of Billings and brother-in-law, Dick and family in Helena.

A special thank you to Keven Comer and Bozeman Deaconess Hospice, also to all her caregivers and friends at the Bozeman Lodge.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, 3 p.m. at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Please meet at Dahl Funeral Chapel at 2:45 p.m. to process to the cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.