Avis Joan (Ellingston) FJETLAND HOPKEY

FJETLAND, HOPKEY, ELLINGSTON, ULSTAD, RAMON, JENSEN, OUSTAD, BRINKMAN, BAILEY, CHRISTENSEN, MICHELSON, BAILEY, NELSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/4/2014 at 13:02:44

July 21, 1925 --- May 29, 2014

BELMOND, IA -- Avis (Ellingston) Fjetland Hopkey, age 88, of Belmond, IA, died Thursday, May 29, 2014, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond, Iowa, with burial in the St. Olaf Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church preceding the service from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Avis Joan was born July 21, 1925, on the family farm west of Belmond, IA, the fifth child of seven children born to Elling and Nettie (Ulstad) Ellingston. Avis attended Belmond No. 4 Country School through the 8th grade. She graduated from Belmond High School with the Class of 1943. Avis attended Waldorf College two years. She taught country schools west of Belmond, at Kanawha and Garner. Avis was baptized and confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

Avis and Loren Fjetland were married August 3, 1944, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond. Two this union two sons were born, Ron and Dennis. Avis enjoyed being a homemaker and taking care of her family. She made the best fried chicken in the world — according to her family! She loved going to the pancake breakfast at the Wright County fair with her grandchildren. After her family was grown Avis worked as a CNA at the Belmond Hospital and Belmond Care Center. Avis was a loved VBS Teacher. Avis enjoyed writing poetry. Avis and Marvin Hopkey were married in 1987 and enjoyed winters in Florida. Marvin died in 1993. Avis moved into the Belmond Retirement Apartments and later to the care center in 1999.

Avis is fondly and lovingly remembered by her sons, Ron (Candy) and Dennis (Mary) Fjetland; brother, Ray (Becky) Ellingston; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Valerie Fjetland, Dan (Candy) Fjetland and their children Lucas and Madison, Mark (Stacy) Fjetland and their children Elic and Alianna, Buffy (Ralph) Ramon and their children Chelsie Jensen and Andrew Ramon, Michele Oustad, Nikki (Troy) Brinkman and their children Kylie and Marissa; brothers-in-law, Keith Bailey and Lloyd Christensen; sister-in-law, Opal Ellingston; several nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elling and Nettie; husband Marvin; four sisters: Maxine (Elmer) Michelson, Virgil Bailey, Eunice Christensen, and Bernice (Bob) Nelson; and one brother, Leo. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
June 2, 2014