Carol Ehlers

Carol Ehlers passed peacefully Thursday, November 20, 2014, at the age of 80. She was born in Rhame, North Dakota, in 1934 to Clarence and Ruth Hestekin. When she was 13 years old, the family moved to Billings, where she graduated from Billings Central Catholic High School. She attended Holy Names College for one year and finished her education at the University of Montana. It was here she would meet her best friend and future husband, Murray Ehlers. Upon graduating from college, she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she interned at Penrose Hospital. From there, she relocated to San Francisco, where she worked as a medical technologist for the year preceding her marriage to Murray in Billings in 1960. After a honeymoon on the East Coast, Carol joined Murray in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where he was working. They lived in Maracaibo for 16 years and raised their four children there, Mike, twins Jim and Susie, and Christine. In 1976, they returned to the United States to be closer to family in Billings. Carol enjoyed many activities with her friends and family, including walking, golfing, riding her bike with friends to coffee and chat time, and playing bridge. After Carol and Murray became empty-nesters, they enjoyed traveling with her two best friends - her sisters Lyn (Jerry Tucker) and Rita (Pat Nau). While she was often busy traveling or socializing, she also devoted a great deal of time to caring for others. She worked for 10 years as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and was a devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Patrick Parish in Billings. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and quiet times of prayer and reflection. She was Murray's life and will live on as the family cornerstone. Carol is survived by sisters, Lyn Tucker (Jerry) and Rita Nau (Patrick); her four children, Mike, Susie Roberts (Joe), Jim (Jodi) and Christine Johnstone; and her eight grandchildren, Joe, Aaron, Zach, Drew, Sara, Tommy, Alex and Michaela.

A Funeral Mass for Carol and Murray will be celebrated 12 Noon, Friday, April 10, 2015 at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral.