Funeral Service
2:00 P.M., Thursday, April 16, 2009
Old Apostolic Lutheran Church
Lake Norden, South Dakota

Interment
Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery
Lake Norden, South Dakota

Visitation
5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Old Apostolic Lutheran Church
Lake Norden, South Dakota


Ellen Virginia (Ek) Paso, daughter of John and Anna (Larson) Ek, was born December 2, 1911, in Clatskanie, Oregon. She was raised in Mist, Oregon and graduated from Vernonia High School in 1929. In 1933 she graduated from nursing school in Portland, Oregon. Her nursing career included work in Watertown, Estelline and Bryant. Ellen was united in marriage to George Paso on September 21, 1941, in Portland, Oregon. George and Ellen farmed in the Bryant and Lake Norden areas. She died on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown at the age of 97 years, 4 months and 9 days.

She was a life long member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church and enjoyed gardening, family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are her five children, Joel Paso and his wife Shirley of Brush Prairie, WA, Elizabeth Rich and her husband Dick of Bloomington, MN, Richard Paso and his wife Marianne of Brooklyn Park, MN, Lois Paso of Wilmington, NC, Karen Homola and her husband Dennis of Lake Norden; 21 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; two brothers, Leonard Ek and Walter Ek and his wife Alice, both of Battle Ground, WA; four sisters, Gertrude Levanen, Elizabeth Lindberg, Ruth Charlson and her husband Al and Louise Homola and her husband Clarence, all of Battle Ground, WA; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband George; her parents; and two sisters, Rachael Kaarto and Anne Hendrickson.