Ellen Lillian Kangas

Ellen Lillian (Matson) Kangas age 91 years and 7 months, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids, MN on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, surrounded by family members. Ellen was born the eleventh child of fifteen to Oscar and Lempi (Maatta) Matson on December 17, 1920 in Red Eye Township, Wadena County, MN. She was Baptized and Confirmed in the Lutheran Faith and a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN. Ellen was united in marriage to Adolph Uno Kangas on March 23, 1940 at her parent’s home. This union was blessed with nine children: Shirley, Donna, Judith, Raymond, Richard, Terry, Jack, Janet and Larry. They resided on the farm in Meadow Township, Wadena County for 52 years, before moving to Menahga in 1992. Ellen was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She raised large vegetable gardens; she was a great cook and baker and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. Ellen also looked forward to deer hunting and she loved to fish. After her family was grown Ellen worked as a nurse’s aide at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home, Shady Lane Nursing Home and later at the DAC in Sebeka. Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Adolph in 1994, son-in-law Glenn Ritari in 2003 and grandson Joshua Jack Kangas in 2011. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Shirley (Clarence) Suvanto, Donna Ritari (Gary) Judy (Rodney) Bounds, Ray (Cheri), Rick (Shelley), Terry (Nancy), Jack (Wanda), Jan (Wayne) Brasel and Larry (Brenda), eighteen grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren and one step-great grandson, one brother Andrew (Marilyn) Matson of Spokane, WA and one sister Lorraine (Vernon) Macho of Motley, MN, brother-in-law Elon Helman of Menahga, MN many nieces nephews and cousins. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN with visitation two hours prior to the service at the church. Pastor Mark Hesse and Pastor Raymond Hendrickson will officiate. Sara Erickson will serve as organist. Special music will be a duet “On Eagles Wings” by Shelley Kangas and Ted Heino and Ted Heino will solo “Amazing Grace.” Congregational hymns will be “I Know that my Redeemer Lives” and “Beautiful Savior.” Honorary Pallbearers are all of her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Active Casketbearers are her sons Ray Kangas, Rick Kangas, Terry Kangas, Jack Kangas and Larry Kangas Interment will be at the Menahga City Cemetery.