To view Ellen's Celebration of Life please visit: https://youtu.be/n314ZYyikGM

Ellen Kulland, passed away peacefully on June 23rd, at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks.  She was 85.

Ellen was the oldest member of her family.  She was born fittingly on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 1939, in Drake, ND.  Her young life was spent in the Drake and McClusky area, then on to Williston, where she graduated from high school. She then attended Minot State University, and received her teaching certificate.  Her first teaching job was in Parshall, ND.  Even as a young girl Ellen was always singing, she loved music and was a gifted singer.  She sang at several weddings across North Dakota, with some of her favorite songs to sing being "Evergreen", by Barbara Streisand, and "The Wedding Song", by Peter, Paul and Mary.

She married Keith Kulland in 1963, they had 2 children, Janice and Jason, and relocated back to Williston, where she worked as a bookkeeper for K & K Welding Supply, and Kulland Excavating and Gravel.  Ellen was always willing to help anyone, whether it be her church, her community or her family. As her own family got older Ellen went back to Minot State to reinstate her teaching credentials. She taught in White Shield, ND, for a few years.  The Native American communities were very special to her.  She then went on to Moorhead, MN, where she earned a special education degree.  Not an easy task for a single woman in her 40's!  She then moved to Park Rapids MN to teach in the special ed EBD department. After a few years there, she went on to Halstad, MN where she taught in their EBD department for many years. At the end of her career, she spent a few years in Thief River Falls MN, then she retired and moved to East Grand Forks, MN.

Ellen was a strong supporter of women's rights, women pursuing higher education, and female owned businesses. When Ellen knew something wasn't right, she stood up and made her voice heard. Ellen especially loved children, and was an advocate for many, spending as much time as she could with her daughter and her grandchildren, enjoying many summers helping with them.  In her retirement she traveled back and forth to Williston to spend time with her mother, Olga Kellel . She loved listening to her son Jason's radio shows and sports announcing, and attending her grandsons many football, basketball and hockey games. Ellen will he remembered for her selfless acts of kindness, especially towards children, her love of singing and beautiful voice, her support of women's rights and love and support for her family. She will be greatly missed by her children and her three grandsons, who loved her as she was their second mom along with her nieces and nephews, as she was a Mom to everyone in the family.

Ellen left us with many lessons, how to have patience and compassion, how to be a self-respecting human being, and to make a difference in the world. Ellen was especially looking forward to the birth of her fifth great grandchild in Utah, and the upcoming July wedding of her grandson in Grand Forks, ND.

Ellen is survived by daughter Janice (Dave) Strande, Grand Forks, ND, Jason "Jake" Kulland, Langdon, ND, Her grandsons Nathan (Meagen) Strande, Council Bluffs, IA, Erik (Kelsey) Strande, Vernal, UT, Shaun (Fiancée Jennifer Erickson) Strande and, Grand Forks, ND, and great grandchildren Keaton, MaKenzie, Judd, Lucy and ?.  Brothers Robert Kellel, Fargo, ND, Tom Kellel, Williston, ND, sisters Peggy (Mike) Hughes, Richland, WA, and Debra (Jody) Carpenter Benton City, WA, plus many nieces and nephews in Washington, Utah and North Dakota. She was preceded in death by her parents Mike and Olga (Wilson) Kellel, and brothers John and David Kellel.

Our family would like to give special thanks to the Good Samaritan Society in Larimore, ND, and East Grand Forks, MN, and to the wonderful around the clock staff at Valley Senior Living Riverside Community in Grand Forks, ND, from the Nurses, to the CNAs who are truly the backbone of any nursing home. Please consider sending memorials to Valley Senior Living Riverside community in Grand Forks ND . Summer Meal Program -- Grand Forks ND Public Schools, or CVIC in Grand Forks.

Celebration of Life Service: 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 11th, 2024, in the Norman Funeral Home Chapel, 2950 South Washington Street, Grand Forks, ND.
Graveside service: 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Hillside Cemetery in Williston, ND.