Elaine Carol Weber

Elaine Carol Weber

BILLINGS - Elaine Carol Weber slipped quietly and peacefully from this world on February 24, 2025. After battling health problems and chronic pain, her only wish was to join her beloved husband Jim, who left this earth in 2023. Elaine entered hospice services and spent her time surrounded by people who loved her. As always, Elaine was determined and left this earth after a few short days of pain relief, care and comfort in her own home.

Elaine was born in Fairview, Montana in 1940. She was an outstanding baton twirler and majorette, and proudly traveled with the Fairview High School Marching Band. She often talked about marching in parades and traveling with the band to perform in Canada. After high school, Elaine moved to Billings to attend business school and then worked in local offices.

Shortly after moving to Billings, Elaine was coerced to go on a blind date where she met a young marine home on leave. The marine was a local farmer named Jim Weber. This meeting was the beginning of a lifelong love affair. Months later the marine came home for good to marry his sweetheart.

Elaine and Jim settled on the family farm south of Billings. For 63 years they farmed, raised cattle and kids, argued, loved and danced their way through life. For their 25th wedding anniversary, Jim took Elaine to Arthur Murray dance studio. This started their new adventure and they spent many years dancing and traveling with the High Plains Dancers, a western dance group. They traveled and performed everywhere, and gained a whole new group of friends.

As a young farm wife, Elaine worked at Jim's side. She could usually be found trailing him through the fields, irrigating, or driving tractors and trucks for harvests. She was the quintessential farm wife who could work all day in the fields, and still provide amazing harvest dinners. She raised a massive garden and canned the produce, and she enjoyed sharing these tasks with her beloved mother-in-law Marie. Elaine worked in town at various retail stores for the winter season and holidays. As Elaine started experiencing health problems, she went to work in town on full-time basis for retail stores, ultimately working for Shiptons for 17 years. She loved to dress her farmer and rancher customers and made their wives happy by talking them into buying extra jeans or a new hat.

Throughout her life, Elaine's focus was on the kids in the family. She was active in school functions and heavily involved in 4H. No matter the activity or project, Elaine was at the front of the line with supplies and a strong work ethic. Becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother was one of the joys of her life. She took copious photos and her home was filled with pictures of her kids and grandkids. She strived to create memories for the kids and she loved to tell stories about their accomplishments and activities.

Elaine is survived by her daughters, Valarie Weber and Carol (Tim) Zakrzewski; grandchildren, Shawn C. (Jennette) Rasch, Courtney, Jenny, and Lindsey Weber; great-grandsons, Shawn D., Gabriel, Emrys, and Godric Rasch; Siblings, Elma (Orion) Sundheim, Karen (Jim) Olson, Ed (Debi) Simmons; sister-in-law, Joanne Dodd; nieces, Randi Ellis (David) and Robin Deguara. She is also survived by beloved kids Brennen and Kendell Ellis, Nik, Mallory, Joe, and Jordyn Zakrzewski. She was preceded in death by her parents, Evelyn and Melvin Simmons; brother Richard Simmons; mother and father-in-law Marie and William Weber; and infant son Ronald.