Elaine I. Crowe This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. The Daily Internet: The Daily Inter Lake Newspaper, Kalispell, Montana

   www.dailyinterlake.com/NewsEng - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/5/2002   Last Visited: 3/6/2002

   Upon completion of his master's in 1951, Fletch and Elaine moved to Kalispell, where Fletch began work for the Montana Department of Fish and Game.
   
   Subsequent moves took them to Helena and Billings, where Fletch served in various positions of increasing responsibility. In 1971, they returned to Helena, where Fletch accepted the position of first executive director of the Montana Environmental Quality Council. In 1974, he took a position at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as deputy director, a position he held until his retirement in 1981.
   
   By then, Elaine was becoming increasingly handicapped by rheumatoid arthritis, and until her death, Fletch devoted himself to her care. Their mutual devotion was an inspiration and role model for many. After 10 years at Finley Point near Polson, Fletch and Elaine moved to Sapphire Retirement Center in Hamilton. There they continued their lifelong interest in wildlife, and Fletch helped establish a wildlife habitat area next to the center. He also wrote a column on local wildlife, which resulted in the book, "Wildlife Notes from Beaver Lake."
   
   Following Elaine's death in 1998, Fletch turned to his interest in photography and joined the board of the Bitter Root Land Trust in Hamilton, on which he has most recently served as an indispensable volunteer and advisor.