Colene Eiselein

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Colene Sue Eiselein, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at the age of 72. Colene came into this world on October 2, 1947 in Roundup, Montana unto Cleon and Virginia Graves. She received her high school diploma from Roundup High School alongside her classmates from the Class of 1965. Thereafter, Colene married her high school sweetheart Gregory Eiselein on March 12, 1966. Together Greg and Colene raised a daughter Natalie and son Daniel. Colene quickly settled into her early years as a wife and mother on the F Lazy J Ranch on upper Willow Creek in the Little Snowy Mountains. Life was simple and somewhat primitive for the very young and isolated housewife. Without complaint she steadfastly took care of her household and seized the leading role in raising the children. One particular challenge involved a 26 mile round trip twice a day to deliver the kids to the bus stop. Accompanied by Greg and the kids, Colene's saving grace was traveling down country to “the flats” to visit her family on the Graves ranch where she spent her formative years with her siblings Gary and Glenda. Colene's perseverance and steadfast desire to forge a better life coincided with Greg's dream to build a permanent homestead. This dream became a reality as she and Greg together designed and built their dream home at the mouth of Willow Creek Canyon. As the kids progressed through junior high and high school, Colene's life centered around supporting Natalie and Dan's athletic pursuits by staying in town attending to their needs. Colene and Greg travelled many miles all over the state supporting their children in a multitude of athletic contests until their eventual graduations from Roundup Schools. She also found time to serve as a member of the Roundup P.E.O. Chapter where she developed friendships with other members of the organization. As young “empty nesters” Greg and Colene struck out on their own to pursue business ventures in cattle, timber, and finally the cultivation of Greg's artistic talents. Throughout, Colene's favorite distraction in this phase of her life was provided by her children living close by and building relationships with her grandchildren Kris, Kelson, and Meghan. Following and supporting their academic, athletic and occupational pursuits provided enormous joy and immense pride. Colene also added public service to her resume with a brief tenure on the Roundup Memorial Healthcare hospital board. Colene's greatest calling was dedicated to supporting her lifetime partner's art career. Colene handled the promotion and marketing of Greg's artistic gift and revelled in their shared successes. Colene's energies in the past year and a half have been largely dedicated to the realization of the Teddy Blue Abbott Main Street Monument for Roundup. She has been instrumental in the pursuit of ultimately bringing this project to fruition. Sadly she will not be present to witness the completion and dedication of the sculpture. Colene was preceded in death by her father Cleon Graves and her mother Virginia Graves. She is survived by her life-long partner, Greg, her daughter Natalie (Tim) Schaff and son Dan (Carmen) Eiselein, grandchildren Kris Schaff, Kelson and Meghan Eiselein, brother Gary (Sherry) Graves, and sister Glenda (Dave) Tomlin. Memorial Services for Colene will be held at St. Benedicts Catholic Church in Roundup on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those who wish to memorialize Colene may make a donation to the TBA Monument/Musselshell Valley Historical Museum.