Elaine Johnson Green, 78

Elaine Johnson Green, 1946-2025.  

Elaine passed away peacefully with family by her side on May 21, 2025, at the Billings Clinic following complications from an operation to treat a brain aneurysm. 

Elaine was born Martha Elaine Johnson on Dec. 2, 1946, to William Hagen and Martha Zinnia (Lockhart) Johnson in Saint Louis, Missouri. Elaine was joined by a younger brother, Donald, in 1952 who tragically lived only a few weeks.  

Elaine was the light of her parents' eyes, and they doted over her. She was active in her Girl Scouts troop and helped her father compile the family genealogy. Some of her happiest early memories included eating fresh watermelon with her parents on hot summer days, listening at night to the radio broadcasts of Cardinal games with her dad and playing with her dog, Buster. Ever the gifted student, Elaine graduated with a BA from Texas Woman's University in 1968 and received her master's in at Southern Illinois University. She then went on to do her doctoral work at the University of Virginia. In 1972, following her immense disappointment over the defeat of George McGovern, she moved to Washington, DC. where she worked as a legislative assistant to Congressman James W. Symington of Missouri until 1976.  

Elaine met Bryan Green while playing Bridge with mutual friends in late 1975. After what some could call a whirlwind courtship, they were married on May 15, 1976, and recently celebrated their 49th anniversary. Andrew was born in 1978 in Washington, DC and Stuart was born in 1982 after the family moved to Trenton, New Jersey.  

In 1982 the family traveled by train across Canada to Regina and then by car into Montana, joking that it would be nice to completely change their life and move out west, but Billings and Deer Lodge just weren't cutting it. Cresting the rise in Polson and seeing Flathead Lake they turned to each other and said, "This is it!" In November 1983, they moved from New Jersey to the Flathead driving with a sign in the rear window saying, "Montana or Bust!" In Kalispell they purchased Masterpiece Floor Covering, now Masterpiece Carpet One, which they owned until 2020 when the business was purchased by their sons, Andrew and Stuart.  

Desiring a larger family, Bryan and Elaine adopted Katherine in 1987 and Daniel in 1988 from South Korea. As their family grew and started branching out, they decided they wanted a larger family and adopted Leslie in 1996, Alice in 1998, Amelia "Amy" in 1999 and Sophie in 2002. Elaine was always busy homeschooling her children and running her daughters to dance recitals and performances of the Nutcracker. Elaine would look for any occasion brag to anyone who would listen about "my girls" and how amazing each of them was. 

Elaine was an active reader who devoured books and amazingly seemed to retain everything. She would spend hours reading aloud to her children every evening while they were growing up and this was an activity that brought her true joy. Following an aneurysm in 2010 that left her vision permanently impaired, Elaine turned to audiobooks for comfort because the concept of not being able to enjoy literature was so unimaginable. 

Elaine is survived by her loving husband, Bryan; her children, Andrew and Ai Yuasa-Green, Daniel Green, Stuart and Angie Green, Katherine and Fernando Ruiz, Amelia Green, Leslie Green, Alice Green and Sophie Green. She is also missed by her grandchildren, Logan Yuasa-Green, Soleil Yuasa-Green, Ellie Ruiz and Niko Ruiz. 

Per Elaine's request, there will be no public service. The family and friends will gather in September to celebrate her life. Donations may be made to Planned Parenthood.