Ellen Flaten, 84, died Thursday, February 15, 2007 at Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, February 19, 2007, Westaker Free Lutheran Church, Newfolden, MN with Pastor Phil Rokke officiating. Burial will follow in the English Lutheran Cemetery, Strandquist, MN.

Visitation will be Sunday 2-5 PM at Westaker Free Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN with a 4:30 PM Prayer Service. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Monday.

Ellen Bernice Westling was born June 3, 1922 at home on the family farm near Drayton, ND to Erick and Anne (Tungseth) Westling. She attended country school near Drayton and graduated from Drayton High School in 1940. In 1941 she was united in marriage to Earl Olson. He died while serving in the US Army during WWII.

On October 29, 1948, Ellen was united in marriage to Paul R. Flaten at Drayton, ND. The couple lived and farmed in Eagle Point Township, Marshall County, MN, until 1954, when they purchased a farm in West Valley Township, rural Newfolden, MN. To this union four children were born: Orpha, Alva, Emory, and Mary Ellen. She dearly loved raising her family. Ellen worked several places through the years including Roses Caf in Newfolden, the Karlstad Hospital kitchen, and the Arctic Cat clothing division in Karlstad. In 1997 Ellen moved into Newfolden after her house burned down.

Ellen loved to cook, sew, crochet, and knit, but mostly loved to visit with people. She attended many different social functions throughout the area. She also did visitation at nursing homes. She was a member of Heglund Lutheran Church of rural Karlstad. She was currently a member at Westaker Free Lutheran Church in Newfolden where she was very active. She also belonged to the Strandquist American Legion Auxiliary and was an active member of the Newfolden Senior Citizens.

Ellen is survived by 4 children: Orpha (Jakob) Schaffhauser, Karlstad, MN, Alva (Clifford) Dyrud, Moorhead, MN, Emory (Jennifer) Flaten, Newfolden, MN, and Mary Ellen (Christian) Schaffhauser, Wagerswil, Switzerland; 13 grandchildren: Ingrid (Mike) Anderson, Gretchen (Jeff) Staum, Kendal and Singne Flaten, Anne, Erich, Philip, and Ruth Schaffhauser, David (Julie) Dyrud, and Jason Dyrud, and Markus, Monika, and Daniel Schaffhauser, 4 great grandchildren: Larissa, Joshua, and Caleb Dyrud, and Lillian Anderson, and good friend Reuben Haugen, currently living in El Paso, TX.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Earl Olson in 1944, her parents, and her husband Paul Flaten on September 4, 1995.

Ellen Flaten died Thursday, February 15, 2007 at Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN at the age of 84 years, 8 months and 12 days. May her memory be blessed.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ACCOMPANIST: Mike Olson
SPECIAL MUSIC: Eunice Liedberg & Deborah Boen Good Night, Good Morning
SPECIAL MUSIC: Gary & Howard Hodne and friends, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
SPECIAL MUSIC FOR PRAYER SERVICE: Eunice Waterworth in Swedish He the Pearly Gates Will Open
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: How Great Thou Art, What A Day That Will Be
CASKETBEARERS: Kendal Flaten, Erich Schaffhauser, Philip Schaffhauser, David Dyrud, Jason Dyrud, Markus Schaffhauser, Daniel Schaffhauser, Mike Anderson, Jeff Staum