Alice E. SALVESON Fjell 1917 - 2005 SHS 1935
OBITUARIES - BILLINGS GAZETTE - June 24 2005 BIRNEY - Alice S. Fjell, 88, of Birney, died June 21, 2005, at the Powder River Manor nursing home in Broadus.

Alice Elizabeth was the sixth child born to Tobias and Molly (Thompson) Salveson at their ranch at the mouth of Canyon Creek. She attended local grade schools and graduated from Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Wyo., in 1935. She then went to work for the Quarter Circle U Ranch for the Brewster family where she helped with their dude ranch.

She met Elmer Fjell while working at the ranch and they were married Feb. 15, 1940.

In the spring of 1940, Lyman Brewster left the ranch and started a construction business building reservoirs, irrigation ditches, dams, roads, etc., in southeastern Montana. Elmer went with him as his foreman and took his new bride with him. They lived in a small trailer that they pulled to each job site. The first four of their children were born while they were in "Dirt Camp" and then they moved to the Three Circle Ranch in the fall of 1947. Lyman had leased the ranch and some land on the reservation. In 1957, Elmer and Alice moved into Birney, where she went to work for the Birney Cash Store and worked there until they purchased the store in 1959. She was postmistress at the store until her retirement in 1982. She received the Jefferson Memorial Award for community service in 1982 from then Governor Ted Schwinden. After retiring, she moved to her daughter and son-in-law's ranch, where she lived in her trailer house until moving into Powder River Manor. She enjoyed her family, her community and doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Elmer; her brothers Selmer, Torval and Harry; her sisters Anna and Tilda; and grandson Elmer III.

She is survived by her children, Elmer Jr. (Laurel) Fjell, Richard (Rayetta) Fjell, Marjorie (Jack) Knobloch, Alan (Vickie) Fjell, Randolph Fjell and Carol Colwell. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 27, at the St. Labre Catholic Church in Ashland. Burial will be in Birney.

Memorials may be made to the Powder River Manor, American Cancer Society or to one's choice. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.

Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements.