Elaine Ann Amestoy passed away on November 18, 2025, at the SHC Extended Care Facility. She was born on the family homestead in northwest Richland County on April 8, 1926, to William and Hazel Houglum and was the second of five children.

She attended Goodwin school until the untimely death of her father when she was 11 years old. The family then moved to Sidney where she finished elementary school and graduated from Sidney High School in 1943. While in school, she was active in 4-H and National Honor Society. Following high school, she worked for JC Penney and Midland Lumber as a bookkeeper.

She met her future husband, Charles Amestoy, through mutual friends at a dance at the French School House. They were married on May 19, 1945, at Saint Philomenia Church in Sidney, Montana and were married 64 years before Charles passed. They began their life together on the family farm in the Elmdale Community and four children were born to this union: Julie, Gary, Janet, and Edward. Elaine loved being a farm wife. She excelled at baking and was an excellent seamstress. She even became an accomplished beautician, cutting and fixing hair for others in the community. She raised big gardens, and raised bum lambs, turkeys, geese, chickens and one cranky rooster. She spent many of her birthdays in the lambing shed working side by side with Charlie and she loved her black faced sheep.

She was also active in community activities. She was a democratic precinct committee woman, a member of Saint Bernard’s Altar Society, lay minister, Clerk for Timmons School District, and one of the charter members of the Mona Homemakers. Many of her weekends were spent at dances at Elmdale hall and cheering on the Elmdale baseball team at Sunday games. She was very supportive of her children and grandchildren and attended many baseball, basketball, volleyball, and softball games.

Elaine loved to read and one of her special interests was education. She was very proud that all of her children and grandchildren were college graduates. She attended several college graduations, the last one to see two of her grandsons graduate from the University of Montana Pharmacy School.

She is survived by her children, Julie Prevost (Don), Gary Amestoy (Patti), Janet Wichman (David), and Edward Amestoy (Jolene); 12 grandchildren, Andrea Prevost, Rachelle Prevost, Deedra Moe, Stephanie Koenig, Karlee Meador, Lynae Louie, Craig Wichman, Paul Wichman, Scott Amestoy, Kevin Amestoy, Brett Amestoy, and Jenise Amestoy; and 11 great grandchildren, Ian and Ana Prevost Plutt, Connor and Sean Moe, Talulah and Townes Meador, Isaac, Amy, Eliza, Aliya, and Olivia Louie. Elaine is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Amestoy; her parents; her siblings, Bill Houglum, Verna Fisher, Alice Reisig, and Leon Houglum and their spouses; her brother-in-law, Paul Amestoy; his wife Corrine; her in-laws, Bernard Amestoy and Jeanne Amestoy; and two nephews, Gene Amestoy and Robert Reisig.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr Kessler, Dr O’Brian, the Lodge and extended care staff for taking wonderful care of Elaine.

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