Funeral services for Ellen will be on Monday, April 1, 2019 at 10:00 am at the Bowman United Methodist Church. Pastor Ray Sherwood will officiate with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery.

Ellen (Burk) Blees 84, went to be with her beloved husband Gerald in Heaven on March 28, 2019 surrounded by members of her family.

Ellen was born on January 1 , 1935 in Superior, WI, to daughter of William and Lucille ( Loise ) Burk. As a young girl, Ellen moved with her family to Bowman, ND, and settled on a farm north of Bowman where she lived until the family moved into town. She attended the Connor County School and graduated from Bowman High School. After graduation, Ellen enrolled in Rapid City School of Nursing. She returned to Bowman and began work ing for St. Lukes Hospital. On September 17 , 1955, E llen was united in marriage to Gerald Blees . A short while later they started their family of four daughters.

After they were married, Ellen began work ing at the Bowman Clinic until she and Gerald worked together where they grew their busi ness into Blees Oil Company. Ellen wore many hat s as bookkeeper, cashier and even pumped gas as needed. In the mid 1980's t hey moved to Ludlow SD where they ranched for almost a decade . Then Gerald began working for Lextron Animal Health where they relocated to Brigham City, Utah. Even though Ellen was far from her family and friends she loved their time in Utah .  She enjoyed her backyard filled with flowers and fruit bearing trees and shrub.  A fter many years spent in Utah, Lextron relocated them back to Dickinson, North Dakota.

When her girls were growing up there was always extra mouths to feed around the supper table which Ellen enjoyed as she was a second mom to many of her daughters' friends. Ellen always had the coffee pot on and had baked goods ready for anyone who stopped for a visit. She always kept busy, in the evening you would find her knitting a baby blanket or making knitted dish cloths to give away. Which gave her great joy.

Ellen was a member of the Bowman East ern Star, served as secretary for the Rainbow Girls and member of the Methodist Ladies Aid. She belonged to a neighborhood knitting club.

Ellen will be greatly missed by her four daughters, Becky Blees , Bismarck, Jody (Doug) Rajewsky , Bowman, Sandy (Brian) Fahlstrom , Dickinson, Kim (Bryan) Hall, Menoken . Grandchildren, Brandon Hoggarth , Bismarck, Kristi (Bryant) Faulkner, Watford City, Brady Fahlstrom , Dickinson, Paige Fahlstrom (Fiancé Weston) Edgerton, WI, Jacie and Kylar Hall, Menoken . Her brother Fred ( Rene ) Burk, Bowman. Sister in-laws Linda Blees , Bowman and Pat Netland , Audubon MN. And many nephews and nieces.

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, her parents William and Lucille Burk , her in-laws William and Isabelle Blees , brothers-in-law, Wayne and Terry Blees .

Don't cry for me today, I wouldn't want it this way. Be strong and smile, for you will see me in a while.

Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Services in charge of the arrangements.