Ellen M. Nord

Ellen Marie Nord, age 87, died at Sanford Hospital, in Fargo, ND, Saturday, July 18, 2015. Ellen was a generous loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She was known for her kindness and gentleness toward people and animals, her keen intelligence, her goal oriented life as well as her love of God.
Ellen was born Ellen Marie Bratlien on February 20, 1928 on the family farm in Park Township in Minnesota. She lived there and in Lake Park, MN before graduating from Lake Park High School. She acquired a love of nature on the family farm set in an area of forest, lakes and abundant wildlife.
She received her teaching certificate from Minnesota State College. She taught in a one room school house in Districts 61 and 15 in Clay County before moving to teach the fifth and second grades in the Hawley School District. Many of her students still say she was the best teacher of all the teachers they had from kindergarten through graduate school.
She married Donald Nord on June 25, 1955. She retired from teaching and began her role as wife, mother to six children and accounting manager of the family farm business.
Ellen was a member of Hawley Alliance Church and formerly a member of Dale Covenant Church. She was an active member in the Great Commission Women of the Alliance Church and the church’s senior bible group. Throughout her life she was an avid reader and participated in book clubs.
Survivors include husband, Donald Nord; children, Deanna Nord Nogel Randy, Daniel Nord Julie, Douglas Nord Cathy, John Nord Barbara, Joy Nord Janusz and Kristen Nord; grandchildren, Randy Nogel Jr., Jesse Nogel, Caleb Nord, Cierra Nord, Heather Winkler Stephan, Justin Morrison Breann, Harrison Nord, Kuba Nord, Emma Nord, Samuel Centeno, Diego Centeno. Great-grandchildren Serena Nogel, Colton Morrison, and Viera Winkler; brother Larry Bratlien and sister Bernice Stensgaard. Ellen was preceded in death by parents Christian and Clara Bratlien; brothers Carl, Charles, Lyle, Donald, Roy, Paul and sister Alice Jacobson Edward.
Visitation will be at Wright Funeral Home 404 Leonard Street in Hawley on Tuesday, July 21 from 5-7 P.M. with a short prayer service starting at 7 P.M.
Services will be held on Wednesday, July 22 at 10:00 A.M. at Hawley Alliance Church, 404 5th Street, Hawley, MN. There will be a luncheon immediately following the service. Burial will be at Dale Covenant Cemetery 4 miles east of Hawley after the luncheon.
Memorial donations can be made to the Hawley Alliance Church, KFNW Radio in Fargo, ND, or Dale Covenant Cemetery.