Irene Cline

Funeral service for Irene Cline, 91, of Ekalaka, will be held at 1:00 p. m. Friday, January 8, 2016 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, with Gary Brower officiating. Burial will follow at Beaver Lodge Cemetery. Family receiving friends will take place from 6:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral service on Friday. Irene passed away January 1, 2016 at Dahl Memorial Healthcare in Ekalaka. Irene Owens Cline was born June 16, 1924 in Yakima, WA to Leroy G. and Letha (Parsons) Owens. The family traveled by Model T from Zilllah, WA to Leroy’s Chalk Buttes homestead when Irene was one year old. Irene attended Foster School through the 8th grade. She often rode her horse to school. She graduated third in her class from Carter County High School in 1942. After High School, Irene attended Billings Business College. While in Billings, she met and married George Ehly on July 24, 1943. George passed away three months after Kenneth was born. Irene married Leslie Cline on September 18, 1946. They added Leonard, Linda, Ronald, and Jerry to the family. The Clines ranched on Box Elder near the Belltower Community. The family enjoyed hunting, fishing, attending country dances, card parties and neighborhood gatherings. Being a very determined lady, Irene got her teaching degree by taking correspondence courses, attending Black Hills State University and graduating from Eastern Montana College in Billings in 1969. She taught country schools for 4 years and seventh grade at Ekalaka Elementary for 6 years. Her kids had all graduated from High School so she decided it was time to retire and move back to the ranch. Irene’s first retirement lasted nine months. She then worked as a Deputy County Superintendent for several years. Les and Irene bought a house in Ekalaka when their children started High School. They boarded several country students; she always thought of them as her own. Her home was always open to anyone needing a place to stay, a meal or a friendly card game. Irene was very community minded; she belonged to several organizations including VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Rifle Club, Chamber of Commerce, Dahl Memorial Hospital Board, District Council on Aging, and Senior Citizens. She was also a 4-H leader and bowled in a league for many years. She took a great interest in all school events and was an avid Bulldog fan. Irene and Leslie chaired the local VFW Voice of Democracy contest and were very proud when Ekalaka’s entry made it to the State and National levels. After retiring, Les and Irene were able to do some traveling before he passed away in 1995. They especially enjoyed their trips with Leslie’s brothers and sisters and never missed a family reunion. Irene is survived by her children; Kenneth (Daphne) Ehly, Leonard (Judy) Cline, Linda (Herb) Kerr, Ronald Cline and Jerry (Betty) Cline, nineteen grandchildren, forty-seven great-grandchildren, and twelve great-great-grandchildren. She was recently preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Debi Cline. The family suggests memorials be made to a charity of your choice.


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Burial Date: January 8, 2015
Church Stevenson Funeral Home

Funeral Services: Friday: Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT