On December 23, 2016 surrounded by family, Ellis passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Ellis was 80 years old. Ellis Williams was born in Uncle Floyd and Aunt Lena (Crosby) Ellis’ house in Ekalaka, Montana on March 16, 1936. Ellis was the first of five children born to Georgia (Crosby) and Lester Williams.
Ellis attended McNarie School and graduated from high school at CCHS in Ekalaka in 1954. He graduated from Montana State University, Bozeman, with both a bachelors and masters degree in Agriculture. He served two years in the US army, 1957-1958, in Germany, France, and England with the Heavy Construction Engineers.
Ellis was married to Shirley Kautzmann in Ekalaka in 1962. To that union a daughter, Georgia Kay, was born April 17th, 1964, and a son, Kent Ellis, born August 31st, 1965. Shirley and Ellis later divorced.
Ellis worked for 30 years for Montana State University as a County Agent, retiring early in 1995. His career was spent at Big Timber, MT, Sidney, MT, Lakeview, OR, and for the last 12 years at Baker, MT in Carter and Fallon Counties.
In 1995 Ellis married Andrea (LeSuer) Pagenkopf in Bozeman MT. Ellis always had a few cows and some land southwest of Ekalaka. Before Ellis and Andrea married, they purchased a ranch in the Sheep Mountains, 35 miles southeast of Ekalaka. Ellis moved there in 1995, and Andrea joined him full time in 1997. They operated this place along with the Ekalaka property, running a cow-calf-yearling operation.
After short vacations to Southeast Arizona, they built a home at Pearce-Sunsights Arizona about 80 miles southeast of Tucson. The home was on the fourth green of an 18-hole golf course. They continued to spend 6 months of the year at the ranch and 6 months of the year in Arizona.
Ellis is survived by his wife Andrea; sisters Peggy (Ernest) Tooke, Marilyn Beth (Tom) Figg; brother David (Lynn); daughter Kay (Dana) Crosby, son Kent (Chris) Williams, step daughter Sarah (Robert) Denkewalter, grandchildren Chrys (Johanna) Crosby, Chris (Judd) Entzel, Colleen, Clanci, Tudie, Ritchie and Malia Crosby; Elizabeth and Amanda Williams, Kathryn and Alexander Denkewalter; great grandchildren Ben, Stella and Alexander Entzel; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Ellis was preceded in death by his parents Georgia and Lester Williams, infant sister Jane Williams, Uncle Johnnie Williams and grandson Ben Crosby.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson and Son’s Funeral Home in Miles City. A funeral,service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday , December 30, 2016 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka with Lloyd Townsend officiating . Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion and VFW Post of Ekalaka. Should friends desire, memorials can be made to Camp Needmore in Ekalaka, Ekalaka or Camp Crook Fire Departments. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday December 28, 2016
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday December 30, 2016
Stevenson Funeral Home
12 Barrow Street
Ekalaka , Montana 59324
Interment with Full Military Honors
Thursday December 29, 2016
Beaverlodge Cemetery
Ekalaka , Montana 59324
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday December 28, 2016
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday December 30, 2016
Stevenson Funeral Home
12 Barrow Street
Ekalaka , Montana 59324
Interment with Full Military Honors
Thursday December 29, 2016
Beaverlodge Cemetery
Ekalaka , Montana 59324
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Guy H Schneider says
Kent, peggy, Beth, Dave and to all of Ellis’s family. so sorry to hear the sad news. What a great man. Lots of memories from the past. Cherish the memories you all have and think often of the good times together. May God hold you close and help you through this tough time.RIP Ellis. Guy Schneider
Bruce and Cindy Ingraham says
Kent Chris and Girls. So sorry for your loss hold tight to the memories Bruce and Cindy
Jim & Marj Anderson says
Kent, Chris and girls
So sorry for your loss. Cherish the memories.
Tanna & Bret Aye says
Kent, Chris and family,
So sorry for the loss of your dad. We will be thinking if you.
Kathy & Verne Schlepp says
Andrea, Kent and all of your family,
Love and prayers to all of you. We are so sorry for your loss.
Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Condolences to the Williams family.
Marilyn & Jim May says
Kent, Chris, Amanda , Elizabeth and Andrea
We send you our sincere sympathy and love. It was fun working with Ellis at 4-H camp years ago.
Kim Stanton says
Dear Kent, Chris, and girls,
So sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way as you celebrate the life of your dad and all he accomplished and contributed to others. Peace and comfort to you all.
Kim Stanton
Ken & Alane Stabler says
Kent, Chris and girls,
Sorry to hear of your dads passing. Your in our thoughts and prayers during this hard time.
Rich and Ellen Franko says
Kent and Chris,
We are sorry to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Garth Sleight says
Kent, Chris, and family; Kay and family; and entire Williams family:
It looks as though the Williams families have lost a remarkable dad/grandfather, and Ekalaka has lost one of its grand cowboys, leaving a gaping hole around the campfire. My sincere condolences to all of you on your loss. May his memories be sweet and tender to you.
Dale & Cindy Berg says
Kent, Kay, Andrea and family,
So sorry about your dad and husband. It’s hard to let them go, but he is now in a better place. Cherish your memories. God bless you all now and in the days to come.
Jerry Bergman says
Andrea and family,
Sorry to hear abut Ellis’s passing. I reallly enjoyed working with Ellis as County Agent of Richland County and have many great and fond memories of Ellis both as an outstanding county extension agent and as a friend.
Blessings and condolences to you and the family.
Jerry
Troy & LaRae Blunt says
Kent Chris & Girls Sorry for your loss. Wish we could be there for you like you were for us. Thinking of you and all the Williams family at this sad time. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Troy & LaRae Blunt and all the Blunt Families.
Dee Dee Griffith Topp says
Andrea,
Thoughts and prayers in the loss of Ellis. May the many memories you made help make it through the tough days ahead. Dee Dee Topp
PAT HERZOG says
Kent, Chris and girls..so sorry to hear about your loss. .you’re all in our thoughts and prayers..Monte and Pat Herzog
Todd and Rose LaRowe says
Kent, Chris and girls–Sorry for your loss. Cherish the memories. The LaRowe family
Jim and Alice Sargent says
Andrea, Kent
So sorry to hear of Ellis’s passing. Thankful fir good times in Big Timber, Brother Bill passed on November 14.
Chole Butler says
I am very sorry for your loss. It is hard to lose a parent especially to cancer.
Take care.