Ella Marie Froehlich November 28, 1927 - September 8, 2023

Ella Marie Froehlich, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, formerly of Anaconda, Montana, went home to her Lord and Savior on September 8, 2023, at the age of 95 in Star, Idaho.

The fourth of five children, Ella was born to Frank and Cecilia Kimble in their home in Creighton, Nebraska, on November 28, 1927.  In 1942, Frank moved them to Olney, Montana, where Ella attended high school in Whitefish and began working at the hospital during the war. She married Albert Reed in 1946, and together they had two daughters, Kathryn Marie and Ada Jean. After their divorce, she and the girls moved to the Anaconda area, where she found work at the Warm Springs State Hospital. In 1951, she married John Gish; together they had one daughter, Marlene Florence. They built a home in Opportunity where Ella kept a garden, canned produce, grew flowers, sewed, and made lifelong friends.

In 1969, she returned to working at Galen State Hospital as a nurse’s aide.  And in 1972, she went to nursing school in Butte and received a license for Practical Nursing, fulfilling a dream to become a nurse.  In 1973, she married Pete Froehlich. Together they created their own little heaven on earth in Opportunity. They made a home for themselves and one for her mother Cecilia. It was a welcome place for all their family and friends with most of the meals coming from their incredible garden. Before Pete’s passing, they sold their home and moved into Anaconda. It was a difficult time for Ella, but she continued moving forward, teaching Sunday school, and welcoming grandchildren into her life.

Ella retired from Galen in 1990. A friend to many that touched her life, she was always ready to meet for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or to run to Butte. She devoted herself to her family and continued her annual trip to Nebraska for many years where family was always excited to see her visit.

In 2020, Ella moved to Star to live near family again. She was especially delighted by the time spent with her great-grandchildren, who called her GG for short. For Halloween last year, Ella dressed as a nurse and handed out candy to kids and adults alike.  She will be missed immensely by her family and many friends. Ella always had a heart devoted to her prayer life, a sense of humor, and a happy spirit. Her memory was so vivid, and she could recite God’s word or a poem she learned as a child. God truly blessed us with Ella every day.

Ella is proceeded in death by her parents, husband Pete Froehlich, daughter Ada Jean Greer, siblings Gerald Kimble, Inez Lee, Ruby Krueger, and Florence Henzler, and her sons-in-law Bill O’Connor and Ken Miller.

Ella is survived by daughters Kathryn O’Connor and Marlene Miller; by granddaughters Kimberly Glover, Kelly (Ryan) Lehr, Jesse (Eric) Bender, and Shannon (Paul) Fullerton; by great-grandchildren Kyle O’Connor, Austin Glover, Megan and Jace Lehr, Eustacious and Ramsey Bender, and Jack and Nora Fullerton; and by numerous special nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life memorial service for Ella Froehlich will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, located between Anaconda and Butte, Montana, in the spring of 2024. Please visit http://www.bowman.funeral.com to offer condolences or share a memory of Ella. Bowman Funeral of Garden City, Idaho, has been privileged to care for Ella and her family.