Maxine Eliason

Maxine Eliason, 95, of Missoula, passed away early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 2015, at her residence. She will be missed by her family and many friends.

Maxine was born Jan. 21, 1920, on a homestead near Jordan, the fourth and youngest daughter of Beulah Bragg and Roy Foerschler. She spent her childhood and school years in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School. On March 21, 1940, she married her husband of 57 years, Robert E. Eliason. After a short but successful career with Bison Motors, Robert purchased the Ford dealership in Deer Lodge and moved their growing family into a ranch home eight miles south of town. Maxine began her banking career at Deer Lodge Bank and Trust as a secretary to the president of the bank. She will be remembered as a gracious host and great cook, often entertaining large groups in the dining room of her home. She loved music, flowers, her valley home, and a social life with the Eliason and Beck families.

Maxine and Robert remained in Deer Lodge for 11 years, eventually moving back to Great Falls and rejoining Bison Motors. They remained there until moving to Missoula in 1967 to take a position with T&W Chevrolet. Maxine continued her career in banking with First National Bank and Trust. She traveled from Libby to Salmon, Idaho, signing local merchants with a new service called Master Card. She retired in 1985.

Maxine and Robert loved to travel, including trips to Europe and Hawaii. During their retirement, Robert designed and constructed a cabin at Trout Creek, northwest of Thompson Falls. They spent summers and holidays there for many years, often hosting family reunions.

After Robert passed away in 1997, Maxine remained active in her bridge club, enjoyed the symphony and summer concerts, and was an enthusiastic fan of the Grizzly football program. Her love of flowers was always in bloom, with displays of begonias and roses. She was active at the First Presbyterian Church and RSVP.

She was preceded in death is her husband, Robert Eliason; and son, James Scott Eliason. She is survived by her sister, Fern Blewett of Great Falls; sons, Larry (Barb) of Great Falls and Daniel (Jill) of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter, Trudy (Don) Mizner of Missoula; 10 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at the First Presbyterian Church with her pastor, Dan Cravy, officiating. Burial will be head at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. A memorial will be established with the Missoula Rose Society in association with the Missoula Memorial Rose Garden in care of John Hoar, 16 Virginia Drive, Missoula, MT 59803.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at missoulafuneralhomes.com.
Read Maxine Eliason's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.