Ella Mae Frances Heser was born February 3, 1938 in Wolf Point, Montana in Roosevelt County to Frank Nicholas, and Faye Maria Heser. She passed away from a long battle with cancer at North Eastern Montana Health/Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point on January 26, 2016.
She went to grade school at the Sunnyside Country School graduating from there in the 8th grade. Then went to the Wolf Point High School graduating in 1957. When she was a young kid at home she started working in the field at the age of 10 driving tractor pulling the combine to cut wheat, and the binder to cut oats. She also drove a team of horses for hauling oat shocks down to the thrashing machine. She helped to take care of neighbor lady across the road Anna Wittenberg as she was very sick with asthma. When she started high school she rode the bus to town. After school she worked at the Handy Shop a small grocery store in Wolf Point. Caught rides home with whoever the first year. The next year the boys bought a car as Floyd started working at Westland Oil, and they rode back and forth together. After graduating from high school she worked at the Wolf Point Café, and later went to work at Husky Truck Shop.
She had a daughter Lee Ann Heser from a relationship with Lee Alan Martin. She married Edward “Eddie” Albert Tank in November 1958 in Wolf Point, and he adopted Lee Ann. She continued working and got offered a manager position at Jessies Nightclub. She worked there for 5 years. Then she started working at the Valley Motor Company in 1962 after she divorced Eddie. She worked at Valley Motor Supply until May 1970. She married John “Jack” Arthur Stolen in November 1969 in Great Falls, Montana, and they had Lorna Rae Stolen. After Lorna was born she worked on the farm. She also took care of John’s two daughters Torri Dawn and Jerra Leigh Stolen. She also worked part time at the V.F.W. club 4 nights a week. They moved to town in May of 1985 and started a daycare. She took care of 383 kids through her home in 11 and a half years, and loved them all. In September of 1996 she started working at Ace Hardware, and in April of 1998 hurt her back and had 2 surgeries in 15 months. She divorced John “Jack” Arthur Stolen. She loved western music and putting puzzles together. She loved to visit with her family, friends, and daycare kids.
She was preceded in death by her parents Frank Nicholas, and Faye Marie Heser, Edward “Eddie” Albert Tank, Lee Alan Martin, John “Jack” Arthur Stolen.
Her survivors include; daughters Lee Ann Tank of Wolf Point, Montana; Lorna Rae (Tom) Philp of Hilger, Montana, Torri Dawn Tanzini, of Marathon, New York, Jerra Leigh (Wayne) Fjelstad of Snohomish, Washington, twin brother’s Floyd Joseph (Joan) Heser of Billings. Montana, Lloyd Patrick Heser of Wolf Point, Montana, Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Moore of Wolf Point, Montana, Kenneth “Ken” Paul (Agnes) Heser of Sunnyside Community in McCone County, Uncle Donald Heser, grandchildren, nieces, nephew, family and friends.
Service Schedule
Visitation
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday January 29, 2016
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday January 30, 2016
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Interment
Saturday January 30, 2016
Sacred Heart Cemetery
Hwy 201
South of Wolf Point, Montana
Service Schedule
Visitation
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday January 29, 2016
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday January 30, 2016
Clayton Stevenson Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Interment
Saturday January 30, 2016
Sacred Heart Cemetery
Hwy 201
South of Wolf Point, Montana
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Katie Reed says
Ella Mae was a wonderful woman. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Ashley Berkram says
She was a great lady. Praying for the family.
Laurie Stolen Suppes says
LeeAnn, Torri, Jerra and Lorna; may peace come to you that Ella Mae is no longer suffering and in pain. Ella Mae was a tremendous asset in helping me cope with my mom’s passing. Exchanging letters over this last year has helped me to “find” an Aunt I never knew existed. May GOD grant you the ability to cope with this loss in knowing she is with family and friends who have gone before her. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
“Though gone from our sight, Loved ones are never gone from our Hearts!”
Love you all so much – Laurie Jo
Mary Vine says
I got to know Ella Mae through my work. She was such a sweet lady and always had a smile on her face. She will be missed very much. My thoughts and prayers to all her family and friends.
Sharon Johnson Lawless says
Ella Mae was such a nice person. I’ll always remember her sweet smile. Her loving and close family will help each other through this.
Holly Heser says
Ella Mae made me feel like part of the family right from the start. I remember all the relatives being packed into her kitchen, dining area and living room during gatherings and holidays, but there was always room for one more. Greg and I are praying for all of her family.
Joy Johnson says
Dearest Betty, I am so sorry to hear about Ella Mae . It was such a pleasure to visit with you two ladies. Even with all the stuff you two went through you always made me smile. Keep strong and keep smiling, with love, Joy Johnson.
Nancy Sietsema says
Ella Mae was a wonderful person and Dan and I had the pleasure of her being our daycare for several years for our two youngest Tiffany and Cody. Ella was a very caring person and opened her door to just about anybody. She will definitely be missed. Please accept our love and prayers and know that she is no longer suffering. She will definitely be watching over everyone from heaven.
torri tanzini says
I have a sense Ella Mae suffered some troubling things but I cherish the memories of her love of beauty for it’s own sake … her lovely flower garden, visible through the living room window at the farm, was purely esthetic … for a while we had a peacock and hen and Guinea hens … they weren’t practical as most things are when one farms and takes a chance with nature year after year but they were beautiful and fun … the Guinea hens would make a ruckus when someone started down the half mile driveway giving warning like we were under attack: ) … as I’ve gotten older, I appreciate the lesson Ella Mae perhaps unwittingly taught that no matter how difficult life may be, we can enjoy something beautiful if we try… it is a hopeful lesson… it is a comforting lesson…
Lois Black says
Ella Mea was a very beautiful lady. She took care of my son Tanner for 8 years and she loved him like he loved her RIP my friend.
Keeta Clemens says
So sorry to hear of your loss. My daughter was one of her children in the mid 80’s and I always enjoyed visiting with her. Many Beutiful memories.
Barbara (Schumacher) Wood says
To Ella Mae’s family, We became friends when I was a 6th grader at Sunnyside and she and Wilma was the 7th grade. So many memories since then. I so enjoyed her Christmas cards and letters. She sat in God’s waiting room for so many years and now she has joined all those souls who have been waiting for her. Blessings to all of you as I keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Roxanne Gourneau says
To the family of Ella Mae, please know that my mother and I thought of her often we knew she enjoyed cross word puzzles, so my mom made a point of making sure she shared her puzzles with Ella. She had a beautiful personality, she will be greatly missed, we will keep the family in prayer.
Ashley Camenzind (Wimmer) says
Ella Mae was my babysitter when I was a child. She loved telling me stories of my hijinks as a kid; how I ended up uninjured in my walker at the bottom of the stairs, got a huge egg on my head, and was always getting her to sneak me special treats. Over a decade after she last saw me, I went to her door for a visit. She knew I was one of her kids and as soon as I laughed she smiled and said, “Ashley Wimmer”. She was a wonderful woman. I am saddened I will not have an opportunity to visit her again in this life. My prayers are with her family. The world is a little dimmer without her.
Richard,Virginia,Andrea and Kristen Schillinger says
Thoughts and Prayers to the Stolen Family..Ella Mae has always been such an important part of our family..we were so blessed to have her watch over our daughters while we worked and give the special care to them during those hours until pick up time..she was very instrumental in helping with their early child hood development in such a positive manner and always will have a special place in our hearts..we will miss her..Thank You Ella Mae for all you have done for us and our continued friendship and love through the years..even when miles apart.. a bond that is one of a kind and will always be treasured.