Ellen Ness

Ellen Ness, 86, of Fargo ND, passed away peacefully on Tuesday Aug. 2, 2016 at Sanford Health Palliative Care Unit. Ellen was born April 13, 1930 in Galesburg, ND to Peter and E. Nora (Omdahl) Satrom. She attended Broadlawn No. 5 County School in Steele County and graduated from Galesburg High School. She graduated from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Grand Forks as a Registered Nurse in 1952. After graduation she married Martin Keller and they had 2 children, Dean and Sandra and later were divorced. She loved nursing and worked in hospitals in St. Paul, Fergus Falls and Fargo including 9 years at the V. A. Hospital in Fargo. Ellen married Gunnard Ness on July 16, 1971 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fargo. They made their home in Fordville, ND, returning to Fargo in 1998. Ellen was a caregiver to many. While in Fordville she visited neighbors in their homes when ill, volunteered with their ambulance service, and cared for those in nursing homes. She loved gardening and had many beautiful flowers. Her geraniums were testimony to her green thumb. She enjoyed baking, and her lemon bars were our favorite. She loved entertaining her family; especially her grand and great grandchildren who will miss the attention she always gave them. Her children and their families will be forever grateful for her strength, love and caring ways. She is survived by her husband, Gunnard; two children, Dean (Cathy) Keller of Austin, TX and Sandra (Dean) Sauvageau of Fargo; five grandchildren, Mike Keller of Austin, Corey (Jess) Keller of Austin, Nicole (Cambrick) Broady of West Fargo, Todd (Darci) Sauvageau of Forest Lake, MN and Jill (Brian) Staffne of West Fargo; 8 great grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Pat Satrom of Fargo. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Arnold. Visitation: Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016 from 6 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo. Funeral: Thursday at 11 AM at Hope Lutheran Church – South Campus, Fargo. West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center westfuneralhome.com