Lillian Yates

Funeral Services for Lillian Yates, 95, of Ekalaka, MT, will be 2:00 p. m. , Friday, July 16, 2010, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka with Pastor Steve DeFord officiating. Burial will follow at Beaver Lodge Cemetery in Ekalaka. Visitation will be from 4:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. , Thursday, July 15, 2010, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p. m. at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Visitation will continue on Friday, July 16, 2010, from 9:00 a. m. until the time of service. Lillian Ann Yates (Gramma Lil) passed away at Dahl Memorial Nursing Home in Ekalaka on July 11, 2010, with family by her side. Lillian was born June 17, 1915, in Belle Fourche, SD, to Myron and Lily May Westland, the youngest of 11 children. Lillian grew up and received her schooling through the eighth grade in the Albion and Alzada area. She then went to work at area ranches, notably Flasteds, Jacksons and Taylors, housekeeping, babysitting and as a ranch hand while caring for her parents. After the death of her mother, she and her older sister, Grace, took care of their Dad until his death, at which time Lillian moved to Ekalaka to help her sister Stella during an illness. In her early years in Ekalaka, she worked at the Nims Caf? and for Mildred Schuyler. Lillian and Bob Yates were married in Raton, NM, and had one daughter, Alice Mae. Lillian and Bob farmed in the Chalk Buttes and did ?dirt? work in the area from the time the ground thawed in the spring until it froze in the fall. She could be seen working alongside Bob in the field; she fueled and greased the ?cat? for Bob while he was doing other maintenance, which, of course, had to be done before daylight so work could begin at daybreak. During the winter, she worked at a local caf? where her specialty was raised doughnuts and caramel rolls. She received many compliments on her cooking, especially the meals she prepared in the sheep wagon. Lillian was a very hospitable person, always wanting to feed you. Lillian loved children, animals, and music and became Gramma Lil and Gramma Great to not only her own grandchildren, but to many local children who still call her Gramma Lil. In later years, she enjoyed her time with the ?Golden Girls. ?Survivors include her daughter, Alice Mae (Dave) Johnstone, Ekalaka, MT; two grandsons, Rob (Heather) Johnstone, Forsyth, MT, and Jeff (Brenda) Johnstone, Miles City, MT; three step-grandsons, Jerry (Lynn) Yates, Salt Lake City, UT, Larry Yates, Iowa, and Doug Cline, Eugene, OR; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Paul, Cade, Morgan, and Sydney. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents; step-son, Byron; step-daughter, Gladys; 10 siblings, Grace, Addy, May, Elizabeth, Lody, Stella, Flora, Harry, Walter, and Dick; and a special granddaughter, Beverly Tourville.


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Burial Date: July 16, 2010
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

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