Greenough to lead Swan Valley Fourth Parade as Grand Marshal

SWAN VALLEY - Longtime Swan Valley resident Ellie Greenough was selected as the July 4, 2022 Parade Grand Marshal by members of the American Legion Post 63 in honor of her many years of community involvement.

"I've had every job that's legal to support myself in the Swan Valley," Ellie said.

Ellie was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. She was an early member of the Swan Valley QRU (Swan Valley Emergency Services).

She remembers when Mount Saint Helens erupted in 1980 and spewed ash in the Swan Valley. It was during a formative meeting of the QRU taking place on her porch when she lived near the Hungry Bear.

"I watched my [Chevy] Manza turn from black to gray," she said.

Ellie taught several First Aid classes in the valley. She had been an advanced First Aid trainer when working at a chemical hide-tanning facility before moving to the Swan.

Ellie served as a fire lookout at the Cooney Lookout when she was a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Fire Prevention Aide.

For several years Ellie was a school bus driver. A few times "when the kids got raucous" she had to pull off on the Kraft Creek Road until the kids noticed she had stopped and settled down.

For a time Ellie was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in the Swan.

For many years Ellie "knew everyone in the valley," first when serving as the Saturday Post Mistress (Lead Replacement) and later in the full-time role. She retired as Condon's Post Mistress in 2015.

A member of the Condon Community Church, Ellie sang the opening and closing hymns.

Friend Linda Schuff said, "She has a beautiful voice. We like to sing one-liners of old songs."

Ellie was a member of the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society Board of Directors (2017-2021). During that time she interviewed Lloyd Hahn for the Swan Valley Oral History Project about his years working as an outfitter.

Ellie was married to independent logger Max Greenough.

"He could do anything from running a chainsaw to operating a cat," Ellie said.

She met Max at a dance in Seeley Lake. He was a good dancer. "I didn't have to do anything. He just picked me up and carried me around."

For several years Ellie made a business as a pet caretaker.

"I would take care of anything that brayed, whinnied, barked or meowed," she said.

Ellie had a business as a realtor for several years. Early places of employment included Swan Valley Centre store, Swan Valley Cafe and the Hungry Bear.

Ellie loves the Swan Valley for its people, scenery and recreation opportunities.