BLAINE, Wash. Nancy Ehli (McAlpine) Ellis, 68, of Blaine, Wash., and former Sunburst resident, died fighting cancer Monday, Jan. 28.

Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby. Funeral service is 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, at Sunburst Methodist Church with burial to follow in Sweet Grass Cemetery. A reception at the church will follow the graveside service. 

Nancy was born on July 10, 1944, in Shelby, to Gilbert and Eloise (Morse) Ehli joining her brother, Dwayne and sister, Marcia. She was raised on the family farm east of Sweetgrass and graduated from NTCHS in 1962. Nancy then married Danny McAlpine and from this union Glenn and Gail were born. Nancy enjoyed spending her time as a homemaker, cooking, sewing and playing piano at church, all while raising her children. After Danny's unexpected death in 1975, she worked hard at being a single mom while running the family farm west of Sunburst. As the kids grew older she decided to get a job in town at a US Customs Brokerage and eventually transferred to Blaine, Wash. in 1982, where she has lived since.

Nancy was an astute businesswoman and had several home based businesses after leaving the brokerage industry which is how she met her husband, John. Mutual friends introduced them and they married in 1995. Together they created Pooch Palace & Kitty Kastle, a dog and cat daycare, grooming, and boarding facility that flourished with the love and care of "Nanny Nancy". Nancy created an annual Spring Fling in Ferndale to raise funds and donations for local animal charities.

She enjoyed traveling and had many wonderful vacations with her family and friends. Nancy loved her many friends and family. She was extremely proud of her kids and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nancy enjoyed reading, listening to Christian music, tending her flowers and anything craft related, but she really loved shopping for "a bargain."

Hurricane Nancy was always busy, she volunteered at hospice and was very active in her community. Nancy was a member of Birch Bay and Ferndale Chamber of Commerce and was always available to care for family and friends in their time of need. Nancy will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.

Nancy is survived by her husband, John Ellis; step-mom, Doris Ehli; brother, Dwayne (Pam) Ehli; step-sister, Artha (Dick) Dunk; step-brothers, Lee (Udeen) Barrows and Brian (Vicki) Barrows; son, Glenn (Nelda) McAlpine; daughter, Gail McAlpine; step-sons, Jayson MacDonald, Brian (Angie) Morris and William (Heidi) Ellis; as well as 11 grandchildren; and six (with one on the way) great-grandchildren.

She is preceded by her husband, Danny McAlpine; sister, Marcia (Ehli) Petersen; mother, Eloise (Morse) Ehli; and father, Gilbert Ehli.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to your favorite church or charity.

Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.

Published in Great Falls Tribune on February 3, 2013.