Erlene Rose Bales Roush, passed November 22, 2017 in her home. She was born September 17, 1930 on a beautiful fall morning in the old farm house on the hill where Brinton Nursing Home is located in Ellington, Missouri. Born to Evert and Beulah Bales. Erlene was the second child of seven. She grew up on the farm working with the family, milking cows, feeding chickens and butchering them, gardening, canning, chopping wood, carrying buckets of water to the house as they had no running water. Erlene learned hard work from a very early age and she could not understand laziness. She had her own team of mules named Pete and Fred to plow the fields for planting. She started school in 1935 in Ellington and graduated in 1948. She played clarinet in the band.
Erlene always loved to dress “to a T” even in high school. She worked at the telephone office on the switch board and slept there on a cot all night for two years and then would go to school, just so she could buy nice clothes. Erlene transferred with the telegraph company to St. Louis, MO. She moved to Wyoming in 1949 selling magazines with a group of friends and met Christopher Slayter who owned the Log Cabin Court Motel and married. Erlene worked the motel with Chris in the summer and they would winter in California for a little bit to visit Chris’s parents. Two children were born: Debra Slayter Rice and Chrissy Slayter Bunn. She divorced in 1955 and married Clarence Roush in 1956. This marriage produced a son, Tom Roush. Clarence already had four daughters: Julie, Billie Jean, DeeDee and Vicki.
Erlene worked as the bookkeeper at Roush Plumbing and Heating for many years. Erlene also worked at Stevens Fryberger for a couple of years. She opened a sewing center for several years on Main Street. Erlene loved the outdoors and fishing, was what she loved the most. All summer long you could find her and Clarence fishing. She liked to hunt with family and loved the mountain cabin on Dull Knife Reservoir. Many good times were had with Jack and Sheila Roush at the cabin and many other family and friends too numerous to mention.
She was a Mother and Grandmother to more than just her own children. She has 20 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.
She was a volunteer for many organizations, loved volunteering up at the VA and helping the Veterans. Erlene liked to paint and painted pictures for much of her family. She gave a lot away for charity auctions, too.
Preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Roush; sisters, Irene Hampton and Janet Christensen; and her brothers, Jerry Bales and Sonny Bales. Survived by children, Tom Roush, Chrissy Bunn and Debra Rice; her sister, Judy Stamey; and brother, Harlen Bales.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 25, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2051 Colonial Dr. in Sheridan, with Bishop Joseph Katschke officiating. Luncheon to follow service at the church. She will be laid to rest in Morris Cemetery in Ellington, Missouri. Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.
