Ellen Lucille Lambkin Mulcare, 87, passed away peacefully October 18, 2016 in Helena, Mont., with her family by her side.
Ellen was born to Leonard James Lambkin and Mary Preputin Lambkin on January 7, 1929 in Great Falls, Mont. and spent most of her life in Lincoln, Mont., where her family owned and operated the historic Lincoln Hotel. Growing up at the hotel, Ellen was exposed to the colorful denizens of Lincoln and learned to respect them all in a place where “everybody was somebody.”
Though winters were difficult and there was always work to be done, Ellen loved Lincoln. A self-proclaimed “spoiled rotten kid,” she was known for her determination and independence. Her only brother, Leonard Lambkin Jr., was a defining influence in her life. It was his love of hunting and fishing that inspired her lifelong passion for the outdoors, and his death in Germany during WWII was a devastating blow to the entire family.
Ellen attended high school in Helena, Mont. graduating in 1947; she completed a year of college in Spokane, Wash. before returning home to Lincoln to teach grades 1-4. It was during this time that Ellen accepted the invitation of her friend and former teacher, Myrtle Alt, to visit Alaska, a visit that would become a pivotal event in her story. After braving a cross-country road trip rife with washed out roads, flat tires and a punctured gas tank, she decided to stay and attend summer school at the Army air base in Fairbanks. It was there that she met her husband of 53 years, John “Pat” Mulcare.
Ellen and Pat were married in Helena on September 30, 1953, and spent the first two years of their marriage in Eugene, Ore. before returning to Lincoln to take over ownership of the hotel in 1955. They then started a family, raising two sons, “Jack” (John Dave) and Tim in Lincoln while contributing to the town’s growth and progress. In addition to her roles as wife and mother, Ellen shouldered the responsibilities of bookkeeper, shareholder and manager in various business endeavors.
During a long recovery from a brain aneurysm in 1983, Ellen began to take walks around Lincoln and the surrounding countryside with her cousin, Bob Didriksen. These walks planted the seeds for two of Ellen’s favorite projects – the Bluebird Society, and the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society. In addition to playing a vital role in both organizations, she was an active member of the Lincoln V.F.W Auxiliary, the Augusta American Legion, the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce and St. Jude’s Catholic Church.
Ellen spent the majority of her life traversing the mountains surrounding Lincoln on horseback and on foot in search of big game, continuing to hunt well into her golden years. In recent months she often shared humorous memories of her years in Lincoln, such as the time she nearly shot Cecil Garland’s horse from underneath him by mistake or the time Pat, impatient to be off to Arizona for the winter, infamously tampered with the scope on her rifle, sabotaging her elk-hunting efforts.
“I lived practically my whole life in Lincoln because I loved the country and I loved the people,” Ellen said. “I saw it when I could walk for the whole day and not see a person, that’s the way I liked it.”
Diagnosed earlier this year with aggressive lung cancer, Ellen chose to face her final days with courage, faith and humor. “I have no fear, I know that God is with me,” she said. “I don’t feel bad about this. God has ways we’re born and he has ways of taking us away. I’ve loved my life.”
Ellen was so thankful for all who joined her in attending her “Hello-Goodbye” gathering in August, filling her last visit to Lincoln with joy, and wished to publicly thank her family for organizing it.
She is survived by her sister Virginia Horner, her sons and their wives, Jack and Elizabeth Mulcare Tim and Maggie Mulcare, grandchildren Charlie (Joelle), Jacque (Jack), Jessica, Lindsey (Mike) and Kimberly, great-grandchildren Jasmine, Reese, Anna, Kazander and Brody, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a sister Betty Disney, and a brother Leonard Lambkin Jr.
A special thank you to Dr. Weiner, his staff and the Hospice staff for taking such good care of Ellen. Thank you to Father Christopher Lebsock for his compassion and blessing of Ellen during her last hours. Many Thank yous to all of the Staff at Touchmark for all of the care, concerns, compassion and developed friendships during the last 2 years.
At her request, a private family gathering will be held. In lieu of flowers, Ellen hoped that donations would be made to the Lincoln Community Hall, P.O.B 566, Lincoln, MT. 59639.Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Ellen.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Maureen " Enie" Fisher & family says
Dearest Jack & Elizabeth, Tim & Maggie and Virginia,
Sending all of our Love and Prayers to the entire family. So very pleased and blessed that I was able to attend Ellen’s Hello- Goodbye gathering. The warm hugs and special comments that she made to me on that day will always be a cherished memory. God Bless you Ellen and may He hold you close in comfort and grace til we meet again.
Maureen “Enie” Dineen Fisher and family,
Todd & Barbie & Alex Fisher, Lisa, Shelton, & Nikki, Lauri Ann & Celena
Patti Buckingham says
Ellen believed that idle hands made for idle minds. Hard work was always rewarded if just knowing you had done your best. We are all just a little less wealthy of heart at her passing. I will miss her great wit and humor and sharing hunting stories. You left a strong beautiful family to the future. God Speed Ellen. Patti Buckingham
Ted Winderl says
The fondest, memory I have of Ellen, is that she gave me “refuge” at a time when I graduated high school, when my home life wasn’t the best. Jack and Tim and I stayed in the “swamp” that summer we became adults and had lots of fun. We all went down our separate paths in the fall. May you rest in peace ,Ellen. The work is done. God Bless.
Randy Hendrix says
Our family rented a home owned by the Lamkins across from the old hotel in the late 1940s and early 1950s. We used to watch old Walt Wise bring the cows from the old barn across the field in front of our house every day to pasture by the Lincoln school and then back to milk at around 4pm in the afternoon. The milk was used for cooking at the hotel. Ellen was my first grade teacher. A couple of years ago on our way through Lincoln I stopped at the jerky factory store and signed the guest book. I asked if Ellen was around but she was not there that day. I subsequently called her and we had an hour’s conversation about old lincoln people of the 1940s. We had some wonderful laughs. My wife Connie and I lived in Alaska 42 years and now after retirement in Eugene, Oregon. My wife and I both have wonderful memories of our childhood in Lincoln. We are saddened by Ellen’s passing. Randy and Connie Hendrix
Cy & Cathy Keefer says
Dear Jack & Tim: We are so sorry to learn of Ellen’s passing. Matter of fact, we are cooking at McDonough Outfitters & just asked about your Mother & then today we read the obituary of her passing. Cy has fond memories of spending time at camp singing “Over the river & through the woods…”. Treasure the wonderful memories. Fondly, Cy & Cathy Keefer
Nora and Tom says
So very sorry for your loss. May God give you peace during this difficult time.
Rick and Jan O'Connell says
Tim and Maggie. So sorry to hear of your loss. She was definitely one of a kind.
Rick and Jan
Bob Blomstrom says
Dear Jack & Tim: So sorry to hear of your mom’s passing, she & your dad were wonderful people. I worked for them in the late 60’s, at the Standard station in Lincoln, and you couldn’t ask for a better Employer, I’ve thought of them often over the years, God’s blessing to you and your family during a difficult time.