Eileen Dianne Salveson, age 77, of Toston

Eileen Salveson of Toston, MT passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on January 25, 2017. Eileen Dianne Johnson was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota on November 2, 1939 to Everette and Eleanor (Twete) Johnson.

She spent some years in California but grew up mostly on the family farm in Rainbow Valley, near Ray, ND. She was baptized and confirmed at the Rainbow Valley Lutheran Church. She graduated from Ray High School in 1958. After graduating, she went to Dickenson Teachers College but dropped out later to help her parents due to a misfortune with her father.

She worked at Northwestern Telephone Bell Company in Williston, ND for many years. This is where she met her future husband, Ben Salveson. She married Benjamin Salveson on September 27, 1969. They raised 5 children together. The family moved wherever work took Ben until 1975 where they eventually settled in Townsend, MT. Eileen worked at Mountain Bell Telephone Company as a Telephone Operator until the break-up of the company in the 80’s. She then worked at AT&T until the mid 80’s when she was laid off. As technology advanced the need of telephone operators was decreased. But her biggest joy was being a homemaker when she was not working and staying home with her children. Ben and Eileen hardly worked at the same time so that one of them could be home to raise their children. In their free time, they spent much time fishing or having coffee at a local business. In 2005 Ben passed away leaving Eileen a widow. Over the years, she moved and lived in Billings, MT, Williston, ND, and eventually moved back to Townsend. Later she moved in with her daughter and her family in Toston. Her greatest joys in life were her books, playing pinochle, playing cards, gardening, crocheting, ceramics, camping, boating, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents Everett and Eleanor Johnson; her husband Benjamin Salveson; her sister Barbara Baker; and her brother Roger Johnson.

Eileen is survived by her children Theresa (Bob) Hossfeld of Toston, MT, Michael Salveson of Billings, MT, Gary (Tiffany) Salveson of Helena, MT, Timothy (Chasity) Salveson of Laurel, MT, and Duane Salveson of Billings, MT; her sisters Judy (Johnson) Pearce of Bismarck, ND and Rita (Johnson) Bratcher of Williston, ND, her sister-in-law Belinda Johnson, her grandchildren Jonathon, Jasmine, Justin, Quinton, Mathew, Nicholas, Morgan, Zachery, Zoe, Zabrina, and Cayden; her great-grandchild Colter and another grandson to be born this summer. She is also survived by her many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at a later date this summer in Williston, ND. Cremation has taken place. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or share a memory of Eileen.