Merrill Griffin

Merrill Griffin, 89, passed away August 31, 2013 at Dahl Memorial Nursing Home, Ekalaka, MT. Visitation will be from 9am to 10am Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT with funeral service at 10 a. m. Burial will follow at the Beaver Lodge Cemetery, Ekalaka. Merrill was born on the Ranch July 30, 1924 to John and Georgia (Taylor) Butler. She and her twin brother Sherrill were the youngest of nine children that were raised in the Chalk Buttes. Merrill graduated from Carter Co High School and then Billings Normal School where she met and married Thomas Pelican. Frank was born and Merrill returned to Ekalaka to teach at Spring Creek Country School. She married Carson Griffin Sept 7, 1949 and then Georgia Ann came along to join Gay and Frank. Grandma loved the ranch and all the work with the animals. She and Granddad Carson had names for all of the cows and hand fed most of them. Harriet the milk cow provided the best milk and cream, which Grandma made into butter and cottage cheese for the dinner table. We would get together and butcher 200 chickens which she raised every year! She harvested and canned vegetables and berries that she would share with family and friends. In the fall the hunters would come to the ranch and Merrill treated them like family so they returned year after year loving her hospitality and the trophy deer, which we would all go out to the Divide and count nightly!The pinochle games were a favorite time as she loved and was the luckiest lady when it came to them! There were many fights when Carson would “open with 340 in the dark” she would say “now Carson you know better” ……… Kings on the Corner was a favorite with the grandkids. After she moved from the ranch Merrill got “Troubles”, her black poodle and faithful companion. Merrill didn’t just live life – she loved life! No one was a stranger for long with her and she would go out of her way to help others when they needed it. Merrill is survived by her son, Frank (Connie) Pelican of Billings; daughter Gay Ness of Billings; 10 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carson; daughter, Georgia Ann Harpster; son in-law, David Ness; siblings, Andy, Robert, Sherrill, Juanita, Madge, Madalene, Lorene, and Bernice; grandson, Phillip Ness; and great-grandson, Cole Darren Pelican. Memorials suggested to Dahl Memorial Nursing Home.


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Burial Date: September 5, 2013
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

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