Lois Ellenson

Lois Gertrude (Schmidt) Ellenson died Friday, May 4, 2012 at Bethany Retirement Living Center in Fargo ND. Lois was born to Erwin and Gertrude (Wolfgram) Schmidt in Niagara, ND on March 5, 1929. The 2nd of 10 children, Lois grew up on the family farm and graduated from Petersburg High School in 1947. Following high school she attended Mayville State Teachers College where she obtained her teaching certificate. She taught in Adler Township, rural Niagara and Noble Township, Gardner ND where she met her husband, Curtis. They were married June 3, 1951 at St. Andrew’s Church in Niagara ND and farmed in the Gardner area until their retirement in 1980 when they moved to Fargo. Lois worked side-by-side with Curtis through all their farming years – trucks and tractors were no stranger to her! She also worked at the Farmer’s Union Station in Perley MN and various businesses in the Fargo area. Lois belonged to Nora Lutheran Church, the Nora Ladies Aid and always enjoyed the fellowship with the Gardner Senior Citizens group. She loved to bake, sew, nurture her strawberry patch and flowers at the farm and spend time with her grandkids. She was the best drop-in babysitter ever, leaving her grandchildren with many wonderful memories! Lois is survived by her husband of 60 years, Curtis and daughters Sandi Hannestad, Fargo ND, Sharen (Morris) Dimmer and Sharlene (Gary) Nelson, West Fargo ND. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Heather (Barry) McKenzie, Billings MT, Kimberley (Dan) Beach, Moorhead, MN, Jessica Nelson, Matthew Dimmer, Jennifer (Mitch) Wolden, West Fargo, ND, Michael Dimmer, Yankton, SD and Jodi Nelson, Minneapolis, MN; as well as 6 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sisters and brothers, Eileen (Deloy) Kiefat, Aneta ND, Janice and Russell, Petersburg ND, Kenneth (Gilma), Larimore ND, Lloyd (Dorcas), Oslo MN and Ervy (Judy), Niagara ND and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Donna Mae, brothers Curtis and Mickey, son-in-law Jerry and infant great-grandson Daniel. Funeral: Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 2:00 PM at Nora Lutheran Church, Gardner, ND. Visitation: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Burial: Nora Lutheran Cemetery, Gardner, ND.