Erla Green

Erla Belle Green, 96, of Great Falls, a retired office professional, died peacefully on February 22, 2014 of natural causes at a local assisted living facility. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, February 28, 2014 at Central Christian Church, 1025 Central Avenue. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements Erla was born on June 20, 1917, to Claude and Lesetta Sallade, the fourth of five daughters. She was raised and educated in Punxsutawney, PA. Erla excelled in secretarial work and was hired by a secretarial pool for the U.S. Government in Washington D.C. in 1936. She married Clem A. Tall there in 1939. After his service in World War II, they were transferred to Great Falls with Mountain Bell Telephone Company. Clem died in 1971. In 1973, Erla married F. Louis Green, owner of Green’s Garbage Disposal Service. They built a cabin at Sapphire Village near Utica, and spent many happy hours mining for yogo sapphires. She retired from her 20 year office position at Sears at age 73 to care for Lou in his failing health. Lou died in 1991. Erla was a faithful member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where she served as financial secretary and as a member of the Disciples Women. Erla was actively involved in the Helen C. Roberts Chapter #71 Order of the Eastern Star and Sapphira Temple #79 Daughters of the Nile, holding many offices in each. She is survived by her sisters, Thelma Lingenfelter of Rochester, NY and Frances Steige of Estes Park, CO; nephew Walter Steige of Estes Park, CO; Lou’s children whom she called her own, Fredrick (Agnes) Green and their children, Carol Ann (Jim) Sturdivant of Freemont, NE, Bruce (Melissa) Green of Clarksville, TN, Cari (Rex) Coldren of Great Falls, and Lee Green of Black Eagle; Michael (Kathy) Green of Great Falls and his sons, Mike Green, Jr. and Tyler Green both of Great Falls; Carol Marie Kummer of Junction City, KS and her children, Alicia (James) Lawrence of Lawrence, KS, Travis (Alein) Kummer and Jamie Kummer Reeve both of Manhattan KS; Robert “Bobby” Green of Billings and his former wife Karen Hardy of Helena and their children, Kyle (Tiffany) Green, Casey Green and Kimber Khan-Green all of Greer, SC, Nicole (Ryan) Ingram of Williston, ND, and Corey (Erin) Green of Sidney; 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Erla was preceded in death by her husband, Clem A. Tall and their son, Ernest A. Tall; husband F. Louis Green; and sisters Emaline Lees and Alleen Heim. Memorial gifts may be made to Central Christian Church, 1025 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT 59401 and Montana Masonic Home, 2010 Masonic Home Rd, Helena, MT 59502.