Elsie Rock

– Longtime Mineral County resident Elsie Rock passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, in South Jordan, Utah. She was 96 years old.
Elsie was born in Calgary, Alberta, on Sept. 27, 1917, to William and Carrie Spence. At age 6, Elsie's family moved to various places in Idaho. Elsie graduated from high school in Athol, Idaho, where she received a scholarship to attend Northwest Business School in Spokane.
In 1937, Elsie met the love of her life, Charles "Charlie" Rock at a dance in Avery, Idaho. Following their wedding Oct. 26, 1940, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, they moved to Alberton, where Charles was working for the Milwaukee Railroad. Except for a few years spent in Spokane, the couple raised their three boys, Donald, Danny and Robert, in Alberton. Elsie and Charles also had a second child, Connie, who sadly did not survive her first weeks.
In 1972, Elsie began managing the Montana State Liquor Store in Alberton for more than eight years. She also was an active member of the local Methodist Church. When Charlie was appointed to serve as Mineral County commissioner in 1980, an office he held until 1996, Elsie often accompanied him on his many duties within the county and commissioner meetings across the state. They were a real team in this endeavor, and Elsie, with her deep wisdom on all things political and social, was an asset to her husband's duties as an elected official.
Elsie was deeply dedicated to her family and many friends in Alberton (she wanted to mention persons like Mikey Patch), where she lived in the same house for 60 years and Alberton was always her home. Throughout her long life, she was most often the one to rise in the middle of the night to prepare the Thanksgiving or Christmas "bird" and other wonderful treats for her extended family who loved to gather in her welcoming home. She was especially happy to have shared her town with two of her brothers, now deceased, Bob Spence and Guy and Georgia Spence and their family. Her brother Jim and sister-in-law Margaret survive her in Wenatchee, Wash.
Elsie Rock was truly an inspiration to so many people throughout her life. While she was never one to "toot her own horn," she surely deserves to have an orchestra of thanks from all the many people she befriended and the many family members who were often comforted by Elsie's unwavering love and attention. Her faith sustained her through her own tough times like the deaths of sons Donald and Danny and her husband and brothers. As she often advised others, she made it through "one day at a time." She is survived by her loving son Robert and his wife Donna in West Jordan. Also, Elsie has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Elsie moved to South Jordan Legacy Retirement Center in July 2013. She wanted to be around Robert and Donna as she was unable to take care of herself any longer. She made so many friends there and will be missed dearly.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, on Friday, July 11, 2014. Condolences for the family may be left at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com


Read Elsie Rock's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.