Wilma Jane Bick

Wilma Jane Gainan, Elverud, Bick passed away August 19, 2025. Wilma was born September 19, 1931, in Ruby MT, where she and her older brother Wayne spent a summer living in a sheep wagon when she was 3. Their dad, Melvin herded sheep on a large sheep ranch out of Dillon MT. She attended 1st grade in Alder MT. She and Wayne collected Bull Durham bags of rubies from the gold mining dredges and along the gravel roads.

Wilma grew up on ranches in Sheridan, Glendale (an old gold mining town), Laurin and Melrose MT. While living in Sheridan, their dad built a sluice box to help sort the gold. All the kids used mom’s iron fry pan to pick out the gold. Wilma and her brother Wayne walked a mile through sage brush and gullies, often in the winter filled with a lot of snow. Sometimes so dark they had to carry a lantern in the morning. They once had a wolf follow them to the bus. Wilma was so cold one morning, the bus driver took off his sheepskin coat and wrapped her in it to get warm. They then moved to Laurin MT. Wilma and her brothers and sisters played out in the field in an old shed with an attic. It was (The Robbers Roost). This was where the outlaws hid from the Vigilantes and Posse from Virginia City MT. It has since been moved closer to the highway so tourists can see it. Virginia City was once the capital of MT as Bannock was before it was moved to Helena.

Wilma graduated 8th grade in Melrose MT. The class consisted of four students, John Reynolds was in the 8th grade, his brother Benny became a World Champion bronc rider, he was in the 1st grade. Their mom, Brownie rode broncs in the Dillon rodeo, she asked Wilma to help her when the Reynolds put on a rodeo at Wise River MT. After the rodeo John, one of the Smith boys and Wilma drove the bucking stock back to the Reynolds ranch. They didn’t have a truck to haul them, it was a long hard, but fast trip home.

Wilma worked the summer of 1945 at the Jones ranch in Melrose, cooking, cleaning and washing clothes for the boss and hired help. Her brother Wayne also worked for them. She received $1.00 per day. At the end of 90 days, she was paid $90.00. This was used to order school clothes for her brothers and sisters. She also got herself her first pair of cowboy boots.

Her family then moved to Ronan, MT. in the fall of 1945. She went to work for Stanley Scearce who owned I.H.C. Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Desota. She worked in the parts dept. She did the ordering, unpacking of the parts and enjoyed waiting on the farmers and ranchers. She worked with John Schacher who was the parts manager and a good friend to her.

In 1948 a rodeo was in Ronan. A bunch of cowboys came into the store where she worked, they talked her into riding a steer in the rodeo. It came out bucking and she hit her knee on the gate, she lasted three jumps, she started to run off the field and almost forgot to return the cowboys spurs he had loaned her.

She graduated from Ronan High school in 1949. She married Bud Elverud in 1950 at the Polson MT. courthouse. They had 3 sons Bruce, Scott, Craig and 1 daughter Kelly. Wilma and family ranched many years in Post Creek and Charlo MT. After I.H.C closed, Wilma worked for Hanson & Granley Co-op for 5 years before it became Cenex. She divorced Bud in 1981 and stayed on the ranch with the help of her son and daughter-in-law for 3 years. She opened her own craft store called The Clover Patch, she had her store for 3 years before selling out and moving to Nirada.

In 1997 she met and married Herb Bick, Herb was always kind and very good to her and her family. He helped the Grandkids make and build many projects. Some of the happiest years of her life were spent taking her kids, grandkids and great-grand kids hunting and fishing. A very special time was going to Phillipsburg to the candy store, each kid got to spend $10.00 for the candy of their choice. They then stopped at the Sapphire Mines to mine Sapphires and then head for the Skalkaho mountains to fish.

Wilma got thyroid cancer and fought it for 7 years with the amazing help of a wonderful Dr. Stephen Sperkert.

She is preceded in death by her mom Myrtle Montana Gainan, her dad Melvin (Fuzzy) Gainan, her brothers Wayne, Woody, Walt and Louis Gainan, her sisters Monte Wichenhagen Gainan and Virginia Williams.

She is survived by her children, Bruce (Terry) Elverud of Charlo MT., Scott (Annette) Elverud of Chester MT., Craig (Darlene) Elverud of Chester MT. and Kelly (Brad) Ackerman of Lenore ID. Brother Joe (Jeannette) Gainan of St. Ignatius MT. 21 Grandchildren, 26 Great grandchildren and 6 Great-great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.

She says of late, whoever believes smile, the best has yet to be, has not of late, taken a good look at me. I’ve gathered a lot of rusty barbed wire from being alive all these years, there are also many times when I’ve re-used and slipped a few gears.

So now you may know and can be sure, I’m on my way to Rehab, so don’t be sad/home is having a good place to be and happiness is having family and friends who love you. (Written by Wilma)

A graveside service will be held at the Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan on Friday August 29th at 1:00pm.