Clara Mae Montgomery, 93, passed away of natural causes Friday, April 3, 2009, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. She was born Feb. 8, 1914, to John and Ada Ethel (Ruegsegger) Grover on her grandparents' farm northwest of Kalispell.

She attended the Spring Creek School and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1933.

She married Orlyn Kinzie Elwood on July 16, 1934, and they raised four children, sons, Oral Kenneth and Jerry William Elwood, and daughters, Ethel Marjean and Lynda Kay Elwood. They later divorced.

She married Glen E. Montgomery on Dec. 9, 1967, and shared her life with him until his death in 1982.

Clara worked at Montgomery Ward, Coast-to-Coast and the Kalispell Mercantile, from which she retired in 1975. In her retirement years, she was a hospital volunteer.

Clara was baptized in the Central Christian Church in Kalispell in 1926, and remained a member for life. She was a member of the women's auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles for 60 years and a past president. She was a dedicated volunteer with RSVP for 15 years. She was a member of the "Craft Ladies' group at Buffalo Hill Terrace, where she lived for four years.

Clara enjoyed baking, crafts, crossword puzzles, reading and sewing. She loved baseball and was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves. Clara lovingly crocheted hundreds of nylon pot scrubbers for the gift shop and fundraisers at the Immanuel Lutheran Home since moving there in 2003.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ada Ruegsegger; husband, Glen Montgomery; a son, Kenneth Elwood; a sister, Arlis Irene Ruegsegger; and two brothers, Vale Dallas and Lloyd Allen Ruegsegger.

She is survived by two daughters, Marjean Thomas and her husband, Frank, of Kalispell, and Lynda Tveidt and her husband, Ted, of Whitefish; son, Jerry Elwood, and his wife, Judy, of Kalispell; half brother, Harvey Ruegsegger of Loveland, Colo.; half sister, Carol Ruegsegger, of Marysville, Wash.; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandchild.

Funeral services for Clara will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Central Christian Church, with Dr. Jan Van der Poll officiating, with burial afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, April 6, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell.

The family request memorials be given to Central Christian Church, 240 Second Ave. E., Kalispell, MT 59901; Immanuel Lutheran Home, 185 Crestline, Kalispell, MT 59901; or a charity of donor's choice.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Clara's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Clara's guest book.