Elsie Lou (Gray) Rae

Missoula - On January 21st 2025 we lost our sweet mom Elsie Lou (Gray) Rae. She was 89.

Elsie was born in Butte Montana and was " Butte Tough" throughout her long life. Born August 10th,1935, she was the youngest of seven siblings.

She was orphaned by the age of 11 and being the youngest, her life became very difficult. Her sisters Betty, Dorothy and Marion did their best to look after her.

At a young age she met a handsome young man named Roger Rae, also from Butte. They married on July 12th,1953 and within a few years they welcomed their first daughter, Debra Sue, followed by a son, David Roger then, six years later, another daughter, Carrie Lynn.

Elsie didn't have a mother role model growing up so when she had a family of her own she was determined to be the best mom ever! Her brother Jack and her sisters in Butte all had kids close in age to her children, so now surrounded by family, she felt her life was finally beautiful.

In 1962 they moved to Helena to raise their young family. As the kids got a bit older she worked at the Helena Credit Bureau and then Hennessy's Department store where, for the next 30 years, she came to work every day, dressed to the nines, with perfect BIG hair, high heels and a smile for everyone. During the holidays she was the premier gift wrapper and likely wrapped a present for everyone in town!

She loved to cook for her family and no one made a Butte Pasty quite like she did, not to mention her red velvet cake! Her Christmas dinners were legendary in that small house on Winne Street and she always made us feel like kids at Christmas, even as adults.

Elsie was a member of Christian Life Center in Missoula and enjoyed attending women’s fellowship.

This world has lost a beautiful heart and soul. Soar high, Sweet Mama.

Elsie is survived by two daughters, Debbie and husband Jim Mountjoy, Carrie and husband John Parr of Missoula, son David and wife Tana Rae of Kalispell. Three granddaughters, Rebecca Tuma, Loni Anderson, Christie Wike and one grandson, Brain Blankenship. Eight great grandkids and several nieces and nephews who loved her so.

Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville is helping with arrangements. www.whitesittfuneralhome.com

We will have a Celebration of Life in the near future. The family suggests memorials be made to Watson Children's Shelter of Missoula and/or The Humane Society of Western Montana.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elsie Lou (Gray) Rae, please visit our floral store.