Ella Deborde, Pioneer Helena Resident, Dies at 101; Services to Be Wednesday
Ella Deborde, 101, Helena pioneer resident, died Sunday morning at the home of her son, Leon Deborde, 1433 Walnut, following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Hagler chapel with the Rev. John W. Bartram of St. Paul's Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Forestvale cemetery.
Mrs. Deborde was born Nov. 1, 1857, in Dakota County, Neb. [sic]. She married Albert Deborde in Denver and they came to the Helena area with four children by stagecoach 73 years ago. Her husband, a miner in the York area, died in 1918.
She was a member of the Methodist church. During recent years, she completed 100 handmade rugs as gifts for her family.
Despite her advanced years, Mrs. Deborde was an avid duplicate bridge player and was rated quite highly by the various clubs to which she belonged.
Mrs. Deborde, who spent her girlhood in Denver, recalled the telegraph message of President Lincoln's assassination and the arrival of railroads there in 1870. On her 100th birthday anniversary, Mrs. Deborde received a message of congratulations from President Eisenhower.
Surviving besides her son Leon are William Deborde and two daughters, Mary Gross and Alta Morgan, all of Helena; a son, Earl of Butte; a daughter, Luella Hogan of Seattle; 25 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Four children preceded her in death: Jesse Deborde in 1935, Annie Jones, 1933, Carroll Deborde, 1953, and Gladys Williams, 1956.
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