Blagen, Ellen J. 1919 - 2002

BLAGEN, ISTAD, SEVERSON, KALIN, BRONSON, LAWTON, STRATTON, SELLAND

Posted By: Norman Hjelmeland (email)
Date: 3/23/2014 at 00:20:36

Ellen J. Blagen, 82 of Decorah, died Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis., following an extended illness.
Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. at
First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Marion Pruitt-Miller officiating.
Organist was Alan Sensor, and soloist Hub Christen sang "Den store hvide flok."
Additional music was provided by Beth Rotto, violin, Jon Rotto, guitar, and Bill Musser, bass, in a performance of "Dad's Waltz."
Special music was given by Gordon MacMasters, who played the saw, and pianist Lyle Edwards.
Congregational hymns were "How Great Thou Art" and "The Old Rugged Cross."
Casketbearers were Jon Rotto, Andy Kalin, Guy Stratton, Dean Orwoll, Philip French and Albert Anderson.
Interment was in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah, and Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah handled arrangements.
Ellen Josephine Blagen was born Nov. 11, 1919, the daughter of Alfred and Emelia (Istad) Blagen near the Canoe Ridge area, rural Decorah.
She was baptized at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church and confirmed by Rev. Hoff at the First Lutheran Church.
Ellen Blagen attended and graduated from Decorah High School in 1937.
She started her telephone career in 1938 as an operator and training instructor with Northwestern Bell.
She moved to Milwaukee, Wis., working in the traffic dept, returning to Northwestern Bell in 1946 as an operator in Calmar and later moved back to Decorah.
Ellen Blagen married Curt Severson in 1946, and later divorced.
In 1955, she moved to Independence, Iowa as an assistant chief operator.
Due to an illness in her family, she returned to Decorah working until the office closed in 1977, and then transferred to Rochester, Minn, working the next five years, retiring in 1982 with 43 years of service.
Ellen Blagen moved back to Decorah, where she lived with her sister Melba.
Ellen Blagen was a member of the First Lutheran Church, enjoyed music and bowled on a bowling league.
She entertained in pantomime at various clubs and organizations and was one cast of the original Nordic Fest Humor Show and Music Festival at the theater.
She enjoyed music and pantomiming, volunteering at Nursing Homes and playing at nursing homes and parties.
Survivors include one nephew: Ivan (Shirley) Kalin of Madison, Wis.; one niece: Sonja Bronson of Studio City, Calif.; nieces and nephews: Jennifer Lawton, Minneapolis, Minn.; Jillian Blagen and Jessica Blagen, Fla.; Rebecca Kalin, Andrew Kalin, and Guy Stratton all of Madison, Wis., and several great-nieces and nephews and cousins.
Ellen Josephine Blagen was preceded in death by her parents: Alfred and Emelia Blagen; brother Nathan Blagen in 1943; a sister, Melba Selland in April 2001 and one nephew.

Decorah Public Opinion, October 22, 2002

Added by Joy Moore Feb. 24, 2018

Source: Times Plain Dealer; Oct. 30, 2002 Page A-3
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by Joy Moore

Services held for Ellen Blagen, 82
Funeral services for Ellen Blagen of Decorah were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 18 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. Interment was in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Schluter-Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Ellen, 82, died Monday, October 14, 2002 at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, WI following an extended illness.
Ellen Josephine Blagen was born November 11, 1919 near the Canoe Ridge area, rural Decorah, the daughter of Alfred and Emelia (Istad) Blagen. She was baptized at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church and confirmed by Rev. Hoff at the First Lutheran Church. Ellen attended and graduated from Decorah High School in 1937. She started her telephone career in 1938 as an operator and training instructor with Northwestern Bell. She moved to Milwaukee, WI, working in the traffic dept., returning to North-western Bell in 1946 as an operator in Calmar and later moved back to Decorah.
She married Curt Severson in 1946, and later divorced. In 1955, she moved to Independence as an assistant chief operator. Due to an illness in her family, Ellen returned to Decorah working until the office closed in 1977, and then transferred to Rochester, MN, working the next five years, retiring in 1982 with 43 years of service. She moved back to Decorah, where she lived with her sister Melba.
She entertained in pantomime at various clubs and organizations and was one cast of the original Nordic Fest Humor Show and Music Festival at the Theater.
Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; one brother: Nathan; and one sister: Melba Selland.

Decorah Lutheran Cemetery
 

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