Elvira J. McCarty, 92, of Plentywood, Montana, passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2016 of natural causes. Funeral Celebrant David Fulkerson will officiate at graveside interment rites at 10:00 AM Wednesday, July 27 at Nathanael Cemetery at Dagmar, Montana. Elvira died Thursday afternoon, July 21, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls; she was 92.

Elvira was born on February 4, 1924, in Antelope, MT. The seventh child to Viggo Johansen (a Danish immigrant), and to Carrie Johnson who were homesteaders in the western area of the Dagmar community east of Plentywood. Elvira attended Lew Wallace grade school and later graduated from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School near Solvang, CA, in 1941. While working as a secretary at Mare Island Navy Yard she met Claude Jackson McCarty whom she later married at Norfolk, VA, on October 18, 1944. Elvira then went to work at the Scow River Plant where she retired after a full 15 years of proud service. Afterwards, she and Claude moved to Great Falls in 1978 where she took employment as a Payroll Clerk for the two Burger Kings in town.

Sadly, her loving husband had an untimely death in 2001 after a battle with cancer. Elvira took in her parents and later retired for the second time after which she became a part owner of a home with her sister Shirley. Elvira loved to travel in her free time going to places such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, the islands of Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, Guadeloupe, and of course time spent traveling across the United States. She truly enjoyed life. A devoted wife and dear friend to all who knew her; Elvira will be missed.

She is survived in death by her sisters, Shirley Hoffarth, of Great Falls; Gladys Robertson of Plentywood, and Zelda Fink and Arliss Heisler, both of Billings, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.

Elvira was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Claude; her brother, Alfred; and sisters, Lydia Francis, Dora Jensen Kanning, Elaine Johansen, Florence Espana, Jane Popescu, and Ruby Peterson.  

Croxford Funeral Home of Great Falls and Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood have charge of arrangements. 

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