Susan Margaret Elliott

Susan Margaret Elliott

BILLINGS - Susan Margaret Elliott, born October 27, 1952 passed away May 6, 2024. Susan was born in Winnetka, IL, the daughter of Franklin R. and Geraldine B. "Gerry" (Anderson) Elliott. She was a toddler when her family moved to Walla Walla, WA. The family later moved to Billings, MT, where Susan graduated from Billings West High School. Since then, she has been known, by most, as Elli.

Elli went on to earn a BA equivalent from Prescott College, an M.Div. from the Jesuit School of Theology, and a Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago.

In her work throughout the years, she was a writer, college teacher, workshop leader, minister, environmental activist, politician, organizer - not necessarily one at a time. Whenever she saw injustice, she would ask not "What can WE do about it?", but "What are WE going to DO about it?". She was an advocate and her organizing skills energized others to continue the work.

As a writer and scholar, Elli had the ability to explain complex issues in ways we can all understand. As a fellow scholar in the Westar Institute, she was looking forward to their annual conference where she was to receive Westar's first annual Elli Award.

Elli loved a daily walk with a friend, her weekly lunch bunch, hiking in the mountains, kayaking at a mountain lake, camping, singing and playing guitar, and getting together with relatives.

Preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Kent Elliott. Survived by her sister, Lynn (Bob) Dixon, nieces: Sarah Elliott, Heather (John) Willoughby and Hannah (Felix) Shepherd (daughters of Kent), and nephews: Alex (Beth) Dixon and Tommy (Caito) Dixon, as well as grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the Northern Plains Resource Council or other organizations working for environmental or social justice causes.

A memorial gathering will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 5, 2024 at the Red Lodge Senior Center at 207 Villard St., Red Lodge, MT.