Beatta Ellis 1880-1927

ELLIS, HALVORSON, MANG, JOHNSON, EVANS, HELMS, NELSON

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 12/15/2009 at 15:42:01

Royal Neighbor Rites at Ellis Funeral

The beautiful funeral rites of the Royal Neighbors lodge were exemplified Wednesday by Star of Hope Camp at the funeral services at the Van Orsdel Methodist church for Mrs. Beatta Ellis, one of their officers, who was laid to rest in Highland cemetery. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Havre and the floral tributes were most beautiful and profuse.

Rites of the lodge came first in charge of Flora Dickson, as oracle; Orvie Stover, vice oracle; Mabel Sawdey, past oracle; Mrs. Jas. Haines, chancellor; Helen Chisholm, Faith; Rose Cooney, modesty; Nonie Tri, courage; Frances Fawver, unselfishness, and Effie Stowman, endurance. Mrs. Rudie of Salem, Ore., an old friend of the deceased, sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere". Mrs. Ellis was musician and manager of the lodge and director of the Juveniles, who attended in a body.

The Rev. Alexander Muirden was the officiating clergyman. He builded his scriptural sermon around the text, so applicable to a Royal Neighbor, the query "Who Is My Neighbor?" "It does not need me to eulogize our departed sister, to you," he said. "In all sides I have heard commendatory remarks of her wonderful life, and services as she went about doing good. Many a one has been helped and cheered in their hour of discouragement by her radiating presence. There are those here this afternoon who have had her comforting voice at hand during the silent dark hours of the night, just as the Samaritan of old watched by his brother man. Her place will be hard to fill in the Royal Neighbors organization, not only here but in other parts of the district she will be sadly missed. she held the position of musician for many years, but was at all times a counsellor and advisor with the other officers of the organization. It can truly be said of our departed sister, 'She hath done what she could.' She was also the director of the children's department of the Royal Neighbors of America. the children's friend at all times." He closed his sermon with the following short biography of the deceased:

Beatta Halvorson Ellis was born at Lansing, Iowa, on June 14, 1880, and died in Havre, Montana, on July 30, 1927. She was married to Frank Ellis at Linn Grove, Iowa, in 1897. To this union was born two daughters, Mrs. Verna Mang and Ruby Ellis, both of whom are here with us. She is also survived by her husband, Frank Ellis, her mother, Mrs. Belle Johnson, Linn Grove, Iowa, and three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. H.G. Evans, Linn Grove, Iowa; Mrs. J.W. Helms, Long Beach, Calif.; Leon J. Johnson, Linn Grove, Iowa; Ole J. Halvorson, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mrs. Emil Nelson, Cooperstown, N.D.

Mrs. Ellis came to Montana with her husband in 1912 and homesteaded near Joplin later moving to Havre where they have made their home for the last few years. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America. She was baptized and confirmed in the Norwegian Lutheran church, and sang in the choir of the Presbyterian church in Havre for many years.... [paper is torn here]

~Havre Daily News Promoter, August 7, 1927