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Martha Davidson Millen Kelsey
The world lost a remarkable woman on December 11, 2016, when Martha Davidson Millen Kelsey passed away peacefully in her sleep at Birchwood. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to her American father, George Park Millen and her Irish mother, Margaret Davidson Millen on November 29, 1922 where she joined her sister, Edith. She lived many different lives in her 94 years. She was ten when her father passed away so she, her sister and mother returned to Castlederg, Ireland to live with her mother’s parents. She attended boarding school in Colerain, Ireland and went on to get her nursing degree in Belfast, Ireland where she nursed during the war. She and her sister travelled extensively during this time and on one of her many trips back to the United States on the QE II she met her first husband, Tom Fildes. He owned the Belsfield Hotel (now the Laura Ashley Hotel) in the Lake District of England and they would spend six months in England and six months in Newfoundland coming down to New York City to sell English China. When that marriage ended she followed her sister Edith to Montana where friends encouraged her to go the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch. She worked at the ranch and soon married Howard Kelsey, the owner of the ranch. Thus began another part of her life being a hostess to guests from all over the world at the dude ranch. They eventually sold the ranch to their son, Kim and his wife, Kelly and when Howard passed away in 1990, she bought an apartment in the Baxter Hotel and split her time between the ranch and Bozeman. Again, she took up travelling and enjoyed many trips around the world. She eventually moved to Aspen Pointe where many of her friends lived as well as her sister. She had a grand time enjoying the Happy Hours she helped organize for all of them. She transitioned to Birchwood where she was lovingly cared for. The last few years you could always find her “holding down the fort” by the fireplace. If you asked her how she was, she always replied, “Top of the World.” She was a grand lady, wonderful hostess, great travelling partner and always willing to go anywhere. She will be greatly missed by her family: Son, Kim and his wife Kelly, their three children, Konnor Kelsey, his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Shaye, son, Kameron Kelsey, daughter, Kyleen Kelsey. Step-son, Mark Kelsey, his three children, Bryan Kelsey his wife, Karen and their children Kevin Kelsey and his wife Mandy, and their daughter Kyla and her husband, Tyler Ward ; Sandy O’Neil and her son Bryan, daughter Brittany and her husband, Nathan Goullette and their children Isabella and Israel; and son, Craig Kelsey his wife Sandy and their son Craig. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Edith Sanks, and her husband, Howard Kelsey. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., January 12, 2017 at Aspen Pointe. Memorials can be made to Heart of the Valley, 1549 East Cameron Bridge Road, Bozeman, MT 59718 or a charity of your choice.November 29, 1922 - December 11, 201611/29/192212/11/2016
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Martha Davidson Millen Kelsey
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