MILES CITY--Erlys Janine Bartels, age 76, of Miles City, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2001, at the Holy Rosary Extended Care Unit.

Erlys was born on May 16, 1924, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Fred and Edna (Hanson) Swanson. She attended grade schools in Washington and Miles City and graduated from high school in Sheridan, Wyo. Following graduation, she moved back to Miles City and worked for Woolworths and Gingrys Cleaners. She then moved to Ashland, where she had spent summers with her grandparents while she was growing up.

Erlys married Roy J. McKelvey in Columbus on Feb. 2, 1942. They moved back to Miles City in 1958, and Erlys went to work taking a federal census; then worked at the Veterans Administration Medical Center; worked for the state sanitarian and for the Colgrove and Brown Law firm. In 1965, she went to work as the deputy clerk of court in Miles City. In 1977, Erlys was elected as clerk of court, a position she held for 21 years. Erlys married Alvin "Abe" Bartels in Billings on May 3, 1975.

Erlys is survived by four daughters, Nancy Solhiem and her husband Dale of Wolf Creek, Janis Ferrell and her husband Thomas of Miles City, Joyce Judd and her husband Walter of Hyde Park, Vt., and Norene Anderson of Buena Vista, Colo.; her stepchildren, Eddie Bartels and his wife Faye of Edmonds, Wash., Barbara McGregor and her husband Doug of Billings, Nancy Johnson and her husband Albert of Belgrade, Ernie Bartels and his wife Deonne of Phoenix, and Patricia Weber and her husband Allan of Ranch Santa Margarita, Calif.; a brother, Milo Richards and his wife Doris of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; a sister, Janet Rife and her husband Jim of Roy; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands: Roy in 1980, and Abe in 1990; and a son, James McKelvey in 1987.

Visitation will begin Sunday, May 13, at 1 p.m. in the chapel in Miles City. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 14, at 10 a.m. at Grace Bible Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Eagles Manor, 1000 Palmer, Miles City, MT 59301.