Ellen Kienitz, died at the age of 101, on Wednesday, August 31, 2023, while in the care of CHI Health at Home Hospice at St. Raphael’s Nursing Home in Valley City, ND.
The funeral service will be at 10:30am, Friday, September 8, 2023, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Valley City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Memory Gardens, Valley City.
Ellen Helen Clara Kienitz was born December 19, 1921, to William Kienitz and Emma (Grager) Kienitz on a farm in Rose Hill Township of Foster County, North Dakota.
She was baptized on January 18, 1922, at their home. She was confirmed on July 19, 1936, at St. Johns in Bordulac, ND. Her chosen confirmation Bible verse is Luke 11:28, “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”
Ellen attended Rose Hill #2, grades 1-6, then Bordulac, grades 7-12, graduating high school in 1937. In 1939, she graduated from Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND.
In 1941, Ellen worked in Detroit Lakes, MN at Mitchell Chevrolet for 1 year; then worked for Kernkamp Ford in Valley City, ND for 7 years. In 1949, she began working for the Valley City State University in the presidential office and later the college library, where she stayed employed for 38 years, retiring in 1987.
Ellen was actively involved in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Valley City, ND where she taught Sunday School and started the church’s first library; she was active in Ladies’ Aid and Alter Guild where she changed paraments for communion.
Ellen enjoyed many hobbies, including crocheting, canning, freezing, baking muffins and cookies, word puzzles, reading, playing bridge, and gardening; Ellen was an original charter member of the Valley City Garden Club. She and her parents spent many hours fishing with her cousins Eric and Ella Groskreutz, as well as Uncle Avolt and Aunt Leisetta Grager.
Ellen leaves behind cousins Loretta Baumbach, Louise (Jerome) Glimm, Ray (Marlene) Grager, Inez Bubolz; as well as many friends, including her special friend, Joan Noeske. She was preceded in death by several cousins, her grandparents, and parents.
In lieu of gifts and flowers, memorials may be sent to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Valley City, or Great Plains Lutheran High School, Watertown, SD.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.oliver-nathanchapel.com.