Ethel Maxine (Seely) Ost

Ethel Maxine (Seely) Ost, 88, lost her long battle with Alzheimer's disease January 11, 2022 at the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta, MT.

Ethel was born on January 20, 1933 to Guy and Eleanor Seely in Hinsdale, MT. Ethel graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1951. After graduating, she moved to Santa Maria, CA where she met the love of her life, Harvey. They were married in 1952, moving back to Montana where they would eventually raise their seven children: Rodney, Ronnie, Suzanne, Rickie, Dennis, Douglas, and Russell.

Ethel worked many years as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell Co. in Glasgow, MT, then she and Harvey along with their children started an oilfield service company in eastern MT and in 1987 purchased their retirement house in Fort Peck, MT. She enjoyed her home there until moving in the fall of 2014 to Malta, MT and eventually moving into the Hi-Line Retirement Center.

Ethel loved the holidays and enjoyed decorating and baking. She loved flowers and gardening, especially roses and enjoyed displaying them at the County Fair, winning many blue ribbons and was an animal lover with many pets over the years. Among her other hobbies, playing board games, jigsaw puzzles, music and her favorite lifelong passion of dancing. Beginning as a four-year-old tap dancer to her enthusiastic participation at the Hi-Line Retirement Center dances.

Ethel is preceded in death by her husband Harvey Ost, parents Guy and Eleanor Seely, brothers Albert and Charles Seely, sister Norma Seely-McNulty, three nephews, two son-in-laws, and a great-granddaughter.

She is survived by her children Rodney (Pam) Ost, Ronnie (Tracy) Ost, Suzanne Luthi, Rickie Ost, Dennis (Paula) Ost, Douglas (Bonny) Ost, Russell (Peggy) Ost, 20 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren.

Services were held on January 15, 1:00 p.m., Hinsdale Lutheran Church, Hinsdale, MT. Viewing was held from 10 to 11 a.m. on January in Malta at Wilderness Funeral Home.

Wilderness Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.