Ellen Svendsen

1926 - 2016

Ellen Adeline Svendsen

Missoula —Ellen Adeline LaSalle Svendsen, 89, of Missoula, passed away on Friday, August 5, 2016, of natural causes.

She was born on November 8, 1926, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to Esther & Alvin LaSalle. After high school, Ellen attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1948.

On December 30, 1949, she married Harry Norman Svendsen of Hogeland, Montana. The couple lived and farmed in Hogeland until 1966. Ellen had a successful career as school librarian for the public schools in Hogeland, Chinook, and Dutton until retiring in 1986.

In 1991, she moved to Great Falls where she was active in Our Saviors Lutheran Church and enjoyed attending concerts and theater. In 2001, she moved to Missoula to be close to her son. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where she organized and maintained the church library.

Ellen enjoyed music, reading, especially history and biography, visiting her family and traveling with Elderhostel to other states. A loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, she also was highly esteemed by friends, coworkers and students. She loved Montana and particularly enjoyed reading Montana history.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman, who died in 1979; also by her brothers, Erling (Dick) LaSalle, Eugene Beck, Jean LaSalle and Alvin LaSalle.

She is survived by her daughters, son and grandchildren: Diane Poirier, Juel (Greg) Harshman (Michelle Wilhelm and Gary Harshman), Neal Svendsen (Carmel Svendsen and Matthew Svendsen), Margi (Gary) Mitrea (and Jarrett Knight), and Tara (Brian) Munsterteiger; as well as by seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also, by brothers, Donald LaSalle of McGregor, Minnesota, and Arlo Beck of Calgary, Alberta. And by special friend, Charles (Chuck) Miller of Great Falls.

Private burial for family will be at Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook followed by a memorial service and reception for the public at American Lutheran Church in Chinook on August 25 at 2 p.m.

Memorials may be made to American Lutheran Church of Chinook, American Lutheran Church of Hogeland, Immanuel Lutheran Church (library fund) of Missoula, or the American Cancer Society.