The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 at Forest River Community Church, Forest River, with the Rev. Dan Billings officiating.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Willow Creek Chapel, (920 3rd Ave. N.) Wahpeton, N.D. There will also be visitation at the church on Thursday from noon until the time of the service at Forest River.
 Ella Gillham Matejcek, 96 Advertisement |
Ella Kathleen Hewitt, the daughter of Lorne and Carrie (Woods) Hewitt, was born July 22, 1912, at Minto, N.D. She was the eldest of four. She attended the Minto Public School, graduating from high school in 1929. She attended the Union Commercial College at Grand Forks, N.D., Mayville State College, Mayville, N.D., and University of North Dakota at Grand Forks. She taught in the Walsh and Grand Forks County schools.
Ella married Thomas “Ted” Gillham Nov. 23, 1939, at Minto. They farmed the Gillham family farm, southwest of Forest River, until the time of Ted’s death in 1978. A daughter, Jean was born to them.
Ella married R. F. “Pete” Matejcek in July of 1979 and they made their home in Lankin, N.D. Pete died in August of 2006. Ella moved to St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge in December of 2006 to be near her daughter.
Ella was a member of the Forest River Community Church and Community Church Women’s Association, Order of Eastern Star, which she was a past matron and past district deputy, a member of the Lankin and Forest River Senior Citizens Clubs, and of the Walsh County Historical Society of which she is a past director. Ella served with the book committee during the printing of the Walsh Heritage Books.
Ella is survived by: her daughter, Jean (Roger) Freden, Wahpeton; three step-daughters, Catherine (Ron) Pich, Grafton, N.D., Joan (Wayne) Novak, Grand Forks, Mary Lou (James) Novak, Grand Forks; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; her brother, Walter “Bud” (Gertrude) Hewitt, Minto; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husbands; two brothers, William and Hardy Hewitt.
Family requests in lieu of flowers to donate to your favorite charity.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Vertin-Munson Wahpeton Funeral Home.
Jo Haire wrote on Feb 14, 2009 9:28 PM: