Ellen Gaaskjolen

Ellen Gaaskjolen, age 90 of Spearfish, died Wednesday April 4th, 2012 at the Hospice House in Rapid City. A visitation will be held 5 to 7 pm Wednesday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche and one hour prior to the service at the church. The funeral service will be held 10:30 am Thursday April 12th, 2012 at the Christian Life Center in Belle Fourche. Interment will take place in Rose Hill Cemetery, in Spearfish. Ellen F. Carmichael was born February 22, 1922 in Beulah, North Dakota. She was the daughter of James and Mary (Taylor) Carmichael. On June 12, 1939, Ellen was united in marriage to Cecil Gaaskjolen in Meadow. To this union, two sons were born: Lyle and Alvin. Following their marriage, Ellen and Cecil farmed and ranched for many years near Meadow. They retired in 1973. Upon their retirement, the couple moved to Spearfish where they lived for many years. During their retirement years, Ellen and Cecil enjoyed traveling, especially in the winter months when they would live in Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas. For many years, they enjoyed being snowbirds together. In 1996, Cecil died. Ellen was a kind and generous woman. And during in her younger years, she was a hard working ranch wife. Ellen loved her children very much, and she will be greatly missed. Ellen is survived by her sons, Alvin of Rapid City; Lyle (Bobbi) of St. John IN; sister, Garnet Gaaskjolen of Faith; 3 step grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Cecil in 1996; brothers Vern, Glen; half-brothers, Edwin and Pete; sister Dorothy Hammer.