Margaret Marie Ellertson

Margaret Marie (Morken)  Ellertson  was born April 10, 1916, in Pekin, ND, the daughter of Carl and Anna (Tangen) Morken.  She passed away  December 27, 2016, at the age of 100, in West Fargo  on what would have been her 66th wedding anniversary. Margaret graduated from the Pekin High School in 1934 and then worked at a hotel in Lakota .  In the fall of 1934, she enrolled at Mayville State College where she would return in the summers to work on her standard teaching certificate.  Margaret loved teaching and her students.  She began teaching in Hatton, followed by two years at the Tangen School north east of Pekin; the Grove School in Bachelor's Grove; the Orness School west of Bachelor's Grove; the Linden School north east of Mayville;  and Willow City  in 1941-1942. Her assignment at the Linden School came as an invitation from Mayville State College as they wanted her to "teach the teachers."  In 1942, she felt she should do something for the war effort and she moved to Seattle, WA and worked in the personnel department for Boeing.  She continued to work for Boeing after the war and then attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle for one year.  Margaret then returned to North Dakota and taught in Larimore, ND and then Halstad, MN Music  played a special part in her life.  While she taught in the Bachelors' Grove community she directed the choir at Elk Valley Lutheran Church.   One of the young men who joined the choir was Nels Ellertson, who would eventually marry Margaret on December 27, 1950 at United Lutheran Church, Grand Forks.   Margaret loved to play the piano and sing.  She was in a women's trio while in Seattle and sang in the choir at University Lutheran, Grand Forks.  Her clear, distinct voice made her a favorite Scripture reader at her church.  Nels and Margaret were charter members of University Lutheran , Grand Forks.  Margaret was also a part of the Bethel Series and Stephen Ministry. Nels and Margaret first lived in Hillsboro, ND where Nels worked with Larry Brown, selling steel buildings.  Nels began his own steel building business in Grand Forks and they soon made their home there.  In 1957,  they built a home on Riverside Drive in Grand Forks.  They enjoyed life there, raising their three daughters: Evonne, Ahna Kristi, and Sonja.  Their home was destroyed by the flood in 1997 and they moved  temporarily to Fargo and eventually back to Grand Forks.   She suffered a broken hip on Easter Monday, 2013, and has been lovingly cared for by the staff of Woodside Village in Grand Forks for the past three years. Margaret deeply loved her family and the Lord.  She is survived by her daughters:  Evonne (Rev. Timothy) Skramstad of Eagan, MN; Ahna Kristi (Robert) Vincent, White Bear Lake, MN; and Sonja (Dennis) Swangler, West Fargo, ND.  Grandchildren: Katie Skramstad, Nathan (Becky) Skramstad,  Rachel  (John)  Larson,  Rebekah (Daniel) Hogshead,  Molly (Rev. Kyle) Magstadt,  David Vincent, Peter Vincent, Audrey (Joshua) Cook  and  Joshua (Kayla) Swangler.  Five  great grandchildren: Lydia Skramstad.  June Magstadt, Elmer Magstadt, Brooke Swangler, and Easton Swangler.  Two brothers, Carl (Penny) Morken of Grand Forks, ND,  and David (Mary) Morken of Thief River Falls, MN,  sisters-in - law, Marion Morken of Fargo, ND and Betty Ellertson, Brainerd, MN,  and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her  husband, Nels and two brothers ,  Ralph Cameron Morken and Harding Morken. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at University Lutheran Church 2122 University Ave. in Grand Forks. Visitation: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service on Monday, January 2 at Amundson Funeral Home 2975 S. 42nd St. Grand Forks, ND.  Visitation will continue the hour prior to the service at the church. Interment: Memorial Park Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.