Anita Elaine Swope

Anita Dubay Swope, age 83, passed away September 22, 2026 from complications resulting from Alzheimer’s and a broken hip.

Anita was born December 14th, 1933 to Clementine and Edmond Dubay.

Anita was educated in Polson and graduated in 1951. After graduation she moved to Seattle where she worked for an insurance company; while there she married Robert H. Skellenger in 1952. In 1953 Terry was born.

The three of them spent the next 20 years following the USS Bentington (air craft carrier CVS 20) up and down the west coast. While at the navel base in San Diego, Jay was born in 1957.

Moving back to the farm on Minesinger Trail, Anita held several jobs with the CSKT tribe and job corporation before settling on a job with the sheriff’s department working with Archie Coulter. For the next 31 years she worked with Bill Phillips, Joe Geldrich, and Glen Frame.

In 1965 Anita married Clarence Swope, the two raised cattle for many years.

Anita was an active member of the First Babtist Church and held several positions within the church. She truly loved the lord and her church family.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Ed Dubay, husbands Robert Skellenger and Clarence Swope, sisters and their husbands Kathleen (Don) Jones, Donna (Bill) Jones, and nephew Jerry Jones.

Anita is survived by sons Jay (Pam) Skellenger and Terry (Deb’e) Skellenger, Grandchildren Makenzi and Dylon Mandy and Tosha and numerous great-grandchildren. Also cousins Bill (Renae) Irwin, Kay Johnson and Renae Dubay.

There will be a graveside service Saturday September 26th at 10:00 a.m. at The Lake View Cemetery

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.