Mary Ellen Silvius, 71, passed away peacefully at her home in Fort Benton on Thursday, January 19, 2017, after a long battle with cancer. Services will be held at Community Bible Church, Thursday the 26 ^th at 11:00 a.m. Memorials in Mary's name may be made to Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute of Great Falls, MT. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Mary's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.

Mary was born September 25 ^th , 1945 in Bentonville, Arkansas to Hazel Opal vonWedell Strate and Wallace Strate.

She has two brothers, Wallace Eugene "Gene" Strate, who lives in Meridian, Idaho with his wife, Caryn, and Thoralf, Jr. "Sonny" Moline, who lives in Lewistown, with his wife, Pat. Deanna Moline Michels is her only sister, who lives in Billings with her husband Steve. Two of her brothers Albert Daniel "Danny" Strate and Dale Moline have passed away.

From the age of 10 months old, Mary lived in the Geraldine area until she moved with her husband Bill to their current home in Fort Benton (not far away).

She attended 12 years of school at Geraldine, graduating in 1963. She played clarinet in the Band and was a Cheerleader for the Tigers.

Mary married her High School sweetheart, Verne Wishman, March 8, 1964. They farmed east of Geraldine and were blessed with a daughter, Pamela Wishman who lives in Fort Benton with her husband Jason Mann and a son Dennis Wishman who lives on the family farm northeast of Geraldine with his wife Jan. Verne, was fatally injured in a crop-dusting accident April 30, 1981.

She was always involved in some aspect of farming -- whether it be driving a tractor or cooking for the family and crew. She was an excellent cook ("If you left her house hungry, it was no one's fault but your own!")

Mary married Bill Silvius 12/26/86 in Fort Benton and added to her family a wonderful step-daughter, Tera Silvius Morton (Victor) of Hayward, California and step-son Derek Silvius (Sabrina) of Great Falls.

Mary's grandchildren were the light of her life. She and Bill followed them to all of their activities and were their biggest fans!  She was so proud of each of them and loved them dearly. They have 11 grandchildren: Kayla and Heather Wishman, Logan and Landon Taylor, Billy and Brice Silvius, Kane, Samantha and Sydney Morton, and Shane and Eean Mann and several nephews and nieces.

Her big smile and kind heart will be missed by all!!

Mary was preceded in death by her mother Hazel Opal Moline, father Wallace Strate, step-father Thoralf "Alf" Moline, husband Verne Wishman, brothers Albert Daniel "Danny" Strate and Dale Moline.