Theodore "Teddy" McElhenney Sr.

– "Teddy" went to Heaven to meet "the sacred heart of Jesus" face-to- face and wait for his wife, Jewel, the love of his life and best friend of 53 years.
Theodore Thomas McElhenney Sr., 74, went to heaven in the arms of his one true love and his most prized possessions – his children and grandchildren – at home in Missoula on Saturday, April 19, 2014.
Teddy was born July 6, 1939, in Butte, the fourth child of Dominic and Georgia McElhenney. He grew up on Butte's East Side and remained a proud Butte native throughout his life.
He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School and Boys Central High School, graduating in 1957. He had a special appreciation for childhood benefactor Charlie Judd, who owned the New Deal Bar on Arizona Street across from Silver Bow Homes, and who so generously provided sports equipment and activity fees for any kids from the Homes whose families could not afford them. Ted was an outstanding athlete at Boys Central, excelling in football, basketball and track. He was a star on Central's 1955 Butte Hall of Fame basketball team, which claimed the "Big 32" state championship. He was Central's leading scorer in the state championship game. He played in the 1957 Shrine football game and the Montana North-South All Star basketball game, where he was named the MVP. It was during his high school years that he also fell for and dated a pretty classmate from Girls Central High School, Jewel Dennehy, and thus began a love story for the ages.
After graduation, he had many sports scholarship opportunities, but enlisted in the U.S. Army for two years and played for the I Corps Army football team in Korea. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1960, and came home to marry his Jewel.
On Aug. 26, 1961, Ted and Jewel were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Butte. Shortly afterward, they moved to Helena, where Jewel attended Carroll College in pursuit of her bachelor's degree in nursing. Ted enrolled at Carroll and played basketball for the Saints for his old high school coach, Johnny Frankino.
After Jewel's graduation from Carroll College, the couple moved to Missoula, where Jewel was a nurse and Ted enrolled at the University of Montana. He played football for the Grizzlies for two years, where one of his claims to fame was kicking the longest field goal ever in a Griz-Cat game.
Teddy graduated from UM with bachelor's and master's degrees and embarked on a long, distinguished career as a federal probation officer, culminating as the chief federal probation officer of the state of Montana. After retiring in 1996, Ted and Jewel wintered in Arizona and spent summers in Polson, as well as enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren. They had the opportunity to go to Ireland and a Notre Dame football game, which was a dream come true.
Teddy and Jewel brought six children into this world: Lori, Teddy Jr., Kara, Scott, Michael and Katy.
Teddy's friends were lifetime friends whom he loved. He was a lifelong weightlifter with a huge heart and smile that matched his enormous shoulders and chest. He was a true Irishman who was known to enjoy a beer or two, play the tabletop piano and belt out songs. All who had the privilege of joining him in singing Irish songs at the City Bar in Great Falls on St. Patrick's Day will recall that he not only had a great Irish voice, but he could rally a crowd to join him.
Above all, Ted was a loving and loyal husband to his wife, Jewel, to his six children, their spouses and his many grandchildren. Ted and Jewel's exemplary love for God, one another and life itself set an enduring example for their children and grandchildren to follow.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Jewel; and children, Lori (Bob) Vinson of Great Falls, Ted McElhenney Jr. of Great Falls, Kara Joyce of Missoula, Scott (Dawn) McElhenney of Great Falls, Michael (Becky) McElhenney of Los Angeles and Katy (Kevin) Swanson of Missoula. His grandchildren include Eddy, Cody, Riley and Kendra Joyce, Bobby (Tara), Ty (Desiree) and Shayna Vinson, KJ and Dougie Swanson, Cody and Logan Henderson, Macie McElhenney, and Michael, Ryan, Madelyn and Elyse McElhenney; his dog, Molly; his brother, Kenny (Silvia) McElhenney of Seattle; his son-in-law, Perry Joyce of Geraldine; and brothers-in-law, Connie and Mickey Dennehy. Teddy was greeted in heaven by his mom; dad; brother, Neil; sister, Donna; in-laws, Marg and Himey Dennehy; and many friends and relatives
Visitation will be one hour prior to the 7 p.m. vigil service Thursday, April 24, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Great Falls. A funeral liturgy will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Great Falls.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends are asked to make donations to the "Help Cole Beat Cancer" fund at (http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/-help-cole-beat-cancer-/161087), or the Cole Lockwood fund at Gateway Community Credit Union, 2300 Great Northern Way, Missoula, MT 59808.


Read Theodore McElhenney Sr.'s Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.