Ella Dahlbom

Ella Dahlbom, 102, of Cooperstown, and recently Fargo, North Dakota, died Sunday, April 6, 2008, at Manor Care Nursing Home. Ella Olson was born on February 18, 1906, in Mount Nebo, Saskatchewan. She was the daughter of Olaus B. and Alice Theresa (Goldhawke) Olson. Ella moved to Blabon, ND, when she was 12, with her family. She attended Blabon School through the 10th grade. Later, she moved to Cooperstown ND, where she worked at McDonald’s Bakery. Ella’s family was the center of her universe. Ella married Andrew E. Dahlbom on December 30, 1927, in St. Paul, Minnesota. They were married for 52 years. She was a devoted wife to Andy, who was the sole proprietor of Dahlbom Electric Company in Cooperstown. Ella was also a loving mother to Marliss Ann (Gerald G. Thorson), and doting grandmother to David Andrew Thorson (Rita), and was so thrilled and elated to hold her namesake and newborn great granddaughter, Ella Ray Thorson, on Easter weekend this year. Ella’s strong faith and spirituality were hallmarks of her life. She was a lifetime member of the Bethlehem Evangelical Free Church of Cooperstown. Ella was active in the church’s functions, where she served as Treasurer of the Ladies’ Aid Group for a remarkable 55 years. She also was a Sunday School Teacher for 35 years, positively impacting hundreds of children. She enjoyed working in the summer at Cooperstown Bible Camp. “Gram” Dahlbom loved her role as that to David, and also to all of David’s friends, where her chocolate chip cookies were famous and made the Thorson residence a destination on many occasions. Ella’s husband, Andy, died in December, 1979. She moved to Fargo, with her daughter, in September, 1981. She moved into Manor Care Nursing Home in December, 2005. Ella is survived by daughter, Marliss of Fargo, ND; grandson, David (Rita) of Lakeland, MN; and great granddaughter, Ella of Lakeland, MN. Ella has two surviving siblings, Hartie Olson, of the Northwest Territories, and Donna (Mervin) Sundby, of Big River Sasketchawan. She was preceded in death by other siblings, Clara (Robert) Dowling, Henry Olson, Sylvia Servatius, Viola (Paul) Cupp, Leo (Pat) Olson, Orlan (Margaret) Olson, Leslie Olson. Funeral Service: Friday, April 11, 2008, at 2:00 PM, at Olivet Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Thursday, April 10, 2008, from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Burial: at a later date in Cooperstown Cemetery, Cooperstown, ND.