Ellen Margaret (Bergstrom) Friesen

In Loving Memory of

Ellen M. Friesen

1944 – 2014

Ellen Margaret (Bergstrom) was born in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan on August 29, 1944 to Eric Arthur and Marie Sophie (Broten) Bergstrom. The oldest of five sisters, she grew up on the family farm in Stockholm, Saskatchewan. A life-long learner and a born teacher, Ellen spent many, many of her childhood hours reading books, writing letters, submitting poems to the Young Co-op page, sewing doll clothes and publishing the Jungle News for her sisters, cousins and pen pals.

She attended St. David School, a one-room country school near Stockholm, before leaving home to finish high school in Viscount, Saskatchewan, where she lived with her Uncle Hans and Aunt Lovern. After high school, Ellen spent one year (1963-64) at Millar Bible School in Pambrun, Saskatchewan and a summer at Saskatoon Business College before beginning studies at the University of Saskatchewan’s Faculty of Education, where she earned her teaching certificate. (She would later earn her four-year degree by correspondence, surrounded by stacks of books and three young children.)

Ellen’s first teaching job was at La Crete, in Northern Alberta. She followed Dan Friesen to Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, where she taught at Rocky Elementary for a year before returning to U of S for another year of studies. Ellen and Dan were married in Saskatoon on July 26, 1969. They lived and taught in Rocky Mountain House for another three years, then moved to Roblin, Manitoba in the fall of 1972 with their first child, Eric, who was born in March 1971.

After moving to Roblin, Ellen and Dan welcomed two more children into their lives. Tim was born in August 1973 and Jana was born in November 1977. During those early years, Ellen spent the majority of her time with the kids, subbing occasionally at Roblin Elementary School. She has described her own mother (Grandma Bergstrom) as someone who “encouraged activity and creativity and had a high tolerance for the inevitable mess.” She blessed her own kids (and grandkids) with this same kind of enthusiasm for learning and discovery.

In more recent years, Ellen turned her passion for teaching into a new career with the LEARN program, joining forces with Dan to teach adult literacy in Roblin, San Clara, Russell, Binscarth, Rossburn, Ste. Lazare, and Birtle from 1994- 2003. She also did homecare for the Parkland Regional Health Authority from 1995- 2009.

In the community, Ellen worked with several groups, making dozens of dear friends along the way. Helping organize the music festival, cooking at Madge Lake Bible Camp, volunteering with Donor’s Choice, Relay for Life, and the Roblin Parent-Child Centre, meeting with a special group of women for regular Friendship Bible Coffees, participating in the work of the Gideons- these were some of the activities that Ellen most enjoyed about living in Roblin. One of her recent favourites was volunteering with the Roblin & District Health Care Auxiliary, which she joined in 2009.

The Evangelical Mission Church and the entire church family had a profound influence on Ellen. Church was not an activity but a central part of her life.

Ellen lived to see a next-to-final version of the family history book that she worked on with her sisters for much of the last 4 years. The book is a collection of photos, documents and personal reflections that Ellen carefully wove together to tell the story of the Bergstrom and Broten families. 

Ellen passed away at Russell District Health Centre on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 after a three-year battle with cancer. Ellen was a wonderful and caring mother and a loving, devoted wife. She had a deep faith in God, a grateful spirit, and a special kindness that extended beyond her own family to everyone she met.

She was predeceased by her father Eric Arthur (1976), mother Marie Sophie (2006) and sister Verna Marie Grisdale (2008), and great-nephew Zane Augustine Maczek (2010).

Left behind to cherish her memory are her husband Dan and their children:  Eric (Adeliene) and daughters Mia and Sydney; Tim (Joanna Ayotte) and daughters Sophie, Hazel and Harriet; Jana Tiessen (Terry), daughter Karly and son Evan. Also left behind are sister Maren (Glenn) Hantke, Erin (Kirk), Garret (Rissy) and Laurel; sister Carol (Ken) Maczek, Paul (Tracey) and son Ayden, Derek and son Matthew, Leanne Milne (Eric); brother-in-law Michael Grisdale, Michael Jr. (Jacklyn) and daughters Ruby and Simone, Eric (Gillian), Lilian and Caroline; and sister Eunice Bergstrom (Bruce Berglof), Carl (Jantina), Kevin, and Eline; Aunt Else Speller; and many cousins, neighbours and friends.

Visitation and Celebration of Life Service was held on Friday, February 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM from the Chapel of Nairn-Chyz Funeral Home in Roblin.

Ellen’s Funeral Service was held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 2:00 PM from the Evangelical Mission Church in Roblin with Pastor Randy Moffit officiating. The Pianist, Mrs. Nettie Balzer, led the congregation in singing the hymns “How Great Thou Art”, and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. Mrs. Tina Dell and Mrs. Nettie Balzer sang “He Giveth More Grace”.  Lisa Peters, Janice Langevin, Wendy Friesen, and Evelyn Vogel sang “10,000 Reasons”. Irene Mitchell read the Scripture Lesson and Carol Britton delivered the Eulogy. Tributes were given by Ellen’s sisters; Maren Hantke, Carol Maczek and Eunice Bergstrom as well as Ellen’s children; Eric Friesen, Tim Friesen and Jana Tiessen. Eric Friesen was the Urn Bearer.

Following the Interment Service in Roblin District Cemetery, a reception was held at the Fellowship Hall at the Evangelical Church.

Psalm 40:1-11

1.  I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2.  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

4.  Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

5.  You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

6.  In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

7.  Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8.  I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

9.  I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.

10.  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

11.  As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

NAIRN-CHYZ FUNERAL HOME

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(204) 937-2111

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