Ella Jensen

Ella Jensen, 94, Jamestown, North Dakota passed away on Thursday, October 14, 2004, at Hi-Acres Manor Nursing Home in Jamestown.

Ella was born in Greenlund Township near Marion, North Dakota, on May 3, 1910, to Esten K. and Ingeborg (Johanssen) Rude, immigrants from Norway. The family moved to Ludlow, South Dakota, that same year.

In 1922, after suffering droughts and the hardships of ranching in that region during those years, they returned to North Dakota, settling near Pingree. Ella continued her education in Roundtop Township in the Pingree area. She loved school and received numerous awards for her spelling and penmanship talents and a blue ribbon for her collection of pressed wildflowers.

Ella married Carl J. Hopland of Pingree on March 21, 1932, in Woodworth, ND. After farming near Pingree for a time, they moved to Jamestown, where their children, Clarence and Janice, were born and raised. Carl and Ella were divorced in 1946.

On October 10, 1951, Ella married William H. Jensen of Jamestown. For several years they enjoyed wintering in Yuma, Arizona, where they made many lasting friendships with other ""snowbirds."" Bill passed away in 1975.

Ella was employed in Jamestown at the Vita Bakery and later at the Downtowner Motel, retiring in 1975. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she took part in Bible studies, quilting, the funeral committee, and newsletter mailings. In 1988 she received the Volunteer of the Year award at Hi-Acres Manor. Her favorite pastimes were gardening, crocheting, and making doughnuts. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and gladly made lefse for the family holiday gatherings. She also enjoyed music and often sang hymns or hummed popular tunes while working around the house. During her teenage years she played the piano and organ for church services.

Ella will be remembered as a very loving, giving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend and for her unwavering Christian faith, gentle nature, and wonderful sense of humor. She delighted in the simplest things in life and was happy and thankful for whatever she had wherever she was. Flowers, birds and butterflies held a very special place in her heart. A nature lover, she faithfully fed the birds and adorned her home with a variety of beautiful handmade butterflies.

Ella is survived by a son, Clarence (Peggy) Hopland, Hobbs, NM; a daughter, Janice (Gary) Parfit, Boise, ID; four grandchildren: Duane Hopland and Melinda (Crawford, Jr.) Adams, Hobbs, NM, Matthew (Helene) Parfit, San Francisco, CA, and Rev. Maria (Rev. Jonathan) Pederson, Waukesha, WI; two great-grandchildren, Dalen Hopland, Hobbs, NM, and Markus Pederson, Waukesha, WI; a sister, Lillian (Albert) Neva and a brother, Leonard (Frances) Rude, all of Jamestown; sister-in-law, Bonnie Rude, Butte, MT; and many nieces and nephews.

Ella was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Elmer and Clifford (Sharlyne), and an infant sister also named Ella.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Dr. William J. Stewart; Pat Dardis, ARNP; the staffs of Hi-Acres, Roseadele, and Rock of Ages; and to Loretta Parfit and the late Rose Exner and her family for their attentive care and compassion during the last few years of Ella's life.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM, Monday, October 18, 2004, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jamestown, with the Rev. Terry Anderson officiating.

Visitation: 1:00 to 8:00 PM, Sunday, October 17, 2004, at the Eddy Funeral Home.

Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Jamestown, North Dakota.