Ellen Kay Burdick

Ellen Kay Burdick, 75, of Ogallala and formerly of Lewellen, passed away Friday afternoon, December 20, 2024 at the Ogallala Community Hospital.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2024 at the Lewellen Tiger Den with Pastor Cliff Transmeier officiating. Services will conclude at the Tiger Den with a meal to follow. In Spring 2025, Ellen will be interred in the Craig, Colorado Cemetery with her dad and brother.

The service will be streamed live via Holechek-Bondegard Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hbfunerals) and available to watch after the service.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Burdick family.

Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com.

Memorials in Ellen’s name can be made to the Lewellen Tiger Den.

Ellen Kay was born on February 7, 1949 in Hayden, Colorado to Richard D. and Thelma Grace (Hayes) Wilson. She was raised on a ranch outside of Craig, Colorado and attended school in Craig. She rode horses from the time she was tiny and loved horses all of her life. She spent 10 years in 4-H participating in sewing, cooking, and livestock including fat steers and horses. She graduated from Craig High School in 1967. She attended college in Casper for a couple years, before meeting and marrying Leonard Johnson in January 1970. They divorced in 1972.

Ellen worked for Basil and Sims Road Construction starting as a flag girl and became a hot plant operator and gravel crusher in a 5-year career. She later worked for Basin Electric as a level 2 instrument operator after completing their apprenticeship program for almost 10 years.

On July 16, 1987 she married Bruce Burdick. Together Ellen and Bruce ran the 17 Ranch, 17 Ranch Winery and a thriving trailer business and she helped with the farming, cows, keeping house, and feeding the crews, falling into the role of farm wife. During the summers, Ellen and Bruce put many youth to work helping around the farm with irrigation and moving cows, including their nieces, nephews, and friends’ children. All of the children who worked for them grew up to become successful adults. In 1999, Ellen and Bruce put in the first 4 rows in the vineyard. In 2006, they opened the 17 Ranch Winery and it was closed in 2017. Ellen learned many things about making wines and met many people across the country working in the little shop in downtown Lewellen. Several well-attended Blues Festivals were held by the winery. The vineyard was removed in 2020. Ellen and Bruce divorced in 2022 and Ellen moved to Ogallala. 

In 1991, David Mateos Queiruga came to stay for 9 months as a foreign exchange student and has become the son Ellen could never have. Ellen and Bruce went to Spain several times to visit David and his family. David, Cote, and Cloe came to visit Ellen and Bruce numerous times also.

Throughout her life she enjoyed crocheting, sewing, flower gardening, good music of all kinds, dogs, and especially horses. 

She is survived by her sister, Tish (Dan) Reimer of Lewellen; nephews, Anthony and Richard VanWey; great nephew, Alex VanWey and great niece, Lina VanWey; her beloved Shetland sheepdog, Buffy; and other extended family members and many friends.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, George “Porge” Wilson.