Eloise R (Foster) Kirk

Eloise R. Kirk was born on October 30, 1924, in Sumatra, Montana, the daughter of James Garfield Foster and Abbie Stinson Foster. When she was five months old, her parents moved to Billings, Montana to own and operate a dairy business known as Foster Dairy.

She attended Broadwater Elementary School, Jefferson Junior High School, and was in the first graduation class of Senior High School, Class of 1942. During her school years, she studied piano, voice, and violin, always participating in school orchestras and choruses. Her private violin teacher was Paul Enevoldsen; the high school director was Julius Clavadetcher. While in high school, she was concertmaster of the Sr. High Orchestra for two years, principle second violin of the Midland Symphony Orchestra, a forerunner of the present Billings Symphony, and director of the Rainbow for Girls’ Chamber Orchestra. She received the highest honor given in Rainbow, called the Grand Cross of Colors. At graduation she played in a string trio for commencement exercises.

Immediately after graduation she moved to Oakland, California to work as a secretary for the U.S. Army Quartermaster. At that time, she also played for three years in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and in a Gilbert and Sullivan summer theater orchestra. In 1944, she enrolled as a music major at the University of California in Berkeley.

On July 8, 1945, she married George E. Kirk in Billings after he returned from war in the Pacific and moved with him to Corpus Christi, Texas where he was stationed with the U.S. Navy. After his discharge in October of 1945, they returned to Billings where she worked as a secretary for the Billings Clinic.

In September of 1946, they entered college at Montana State University where she majored in music education and commercial science. During college years, she was concertmaster of the MSU Orchestra, soloing while the orchestra toured, and playing on occasions for the legislature in Helena. She was named for Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, was a charter member of the Music Honorary Mu Sigma Alpha, was a member of the secretarial honorary, Pi Omega Pi, and the senior honorary of Phi Kappa Alpha. She graduated with honors in 1950. Son John Foster Kirk was born during her junior year of college and attended the graduation.

In July of 1950, they moved to Seattle, Washington where George worked in the Research Engineering Department for Boeing Aircraft Co. She played in the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra and various chamber groups in the area. Daughter Barbara Anne was born on February 15, 1951 in Seattle.

In July of 1951 they moved back to Billings to be closer to the grandparents and rear their children in a smaller community. She helped Robert Staffanson organize the personnel of the Billings Symphony Orchestra and was a charter member, orchestra president, and board member for eight years. Other orchestra activities involved publicity, printing of programs, chairman of fund raising drives, and involvement in the Women’s Committee of the Symphony.

Son Roger Sherwood Kirk was born October 26, 1952 in Billings. At that time they were building their first home on Foster Lane (named for her father). At the time of his death, they moved to her present home on Green Terrace Drive ---- June of 1963.

She was a member of the First Congregational Church and sang in the choir for several years. Her three children studied music and also sang in the choirs.

In 1965 she was initiated into the P.E.O Sisterhood, Chapter AN and later served in various offices, including president.

She moved to Libya, North Africa with George who was transferred to an EXXON LNG Plant at Marsa El Brega on the Gulf of Sirte. They lived there on the Mediterranean from January of 1980 until August of 1981 when she was evacuated. During that time, she travelled extensively in Europe and the Far East. Also, she taught violin and piano lessons to the children in the oil compound, children from many countries. She also participated in musical productions given by the Brega Players, an amateur theater group.

For five months in 1982, she lived in New York City enjoying all the cultural advantages of that area. Husband George was working at the Exxon Offices on Avenue of the Americas.

In August of 1982 they moved to Kobe Japan where she became a member of the Kobe Symphony and Nishinomiya Orchestra. In 1983 she toured China as assistant concertmaster of the Hyogo Prefecture Orchestra, playing concerts in Tjensin and Beijing, being entertained at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

She returned to Billings in 1984 and was divorced in 1985. After that time, she continued to travel extensively and enjoy her family and home. Also, she resumed playing in the Billings Symphony, the Yellowstone Chamber Players and Casper Symphony Orchestra. She claimed her former volunteer position of Enrollment and Scholarship Chairman of the Red Lodge Music Festival and built the enrollment to a new height of 250 students. Also, she continued teaching private violin and piano students---about 22 each week.

During her active years of playing in Montana, she performed many times with orchestras in Missoula, Bozeman (teaching at the MSU High School Chamber Festival), Great Falls, and Billings college and theater orchestras.

Places she visited include Mexico, Japan, France, Ireland, England, Wales, Libya, Morocco, Indonesia, Switzerland, Korea, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Puerto Rico, Panama, Nepal, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, China, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Austria, Venezuela, Netherlands, Russia, Norway, Fiji, Curacao, India, Grenada, Kenya, Thailand, Bali, Greece, Tahiti, Singapore, Bora Bora, Lichtenstein, Belgium, Israel, Turkey, Antarctica, and the Greek Islands.

Survivors include: John and Janny Kirk (David) of Billings, MT; Barbara Kirk and Ivan Long of Billings, MT; Roger and Marne Kirk (Hannah, Phillip, and Emma) of Bozeman, MT; grandson Sean and Sabrina Lineback (Autumn) of Laurel, MT; grandson Kirk and Alyson Lineback (Nadia and Noella) of Baker, MT; and nephew Norman Owen of Reno, Nevada; her French son, AFS student, Xavier Colin and Odile Benoit of Geneva, Switzerland.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James G. Foster.

Her entire life centered around a love affair with music, particularly the violin. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always so proud of her children’s and students’ accomplishments. She cherished each musical moment she was able to share with them.

In lieu of flowers, in memory of Eloise, please send donations to the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale and the Red Lodge Music Festival.