Ellen Garland, age 107, of Farmington, New Mexico, formerly of Carrington, ND, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2014, after a long and productive life.

Ellen was born on June 10, 1907, on a farm in Towner County, ND, to Henry and Celesta (Garst) Murphy. She later with her family moved to the Carrington area. After high school graduation in 1925, she attended Valley City Teacher’s College. While teaching in 1927 and 1928, at a one room country school in Birtsell Township, she met George S. Garland. In 1928, they were united in marriage and farmed near Carrington until his death in 1965. In 1965, she moved to Lakewood, CA. and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pepperdine College and then taught in La Puente, CA. Ellen traveled extensively in the US and Europe. She also made trips to Japan and Hong Kong. Ellen moved to Farmington, NM, in 1985, and continued her volunteer work. On October 13, 1995, Ellen was named “1995 Women of the Year” by the Four Corners Conference for Women. In March, 2000, she moved to assisted living and to the Life Care Center in June of 2008.

She was a lifelong member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and belonged to clubs in ND, California, and New Mexico. She held all the offices and attended many district and state meetings. The GFWC is noted for its many charitable and volunteer works. Ellen also volunteered at many other organizations including the Red Cross, Farmington Museum, San Juan College and First Methodist Church. She was a friend of everyone and always cheerful. She kept the family in touch by way of many, many letters and visits.

Ellen is survived by a son, George M. (Rose) Garland, Carrington; a daughter, Sybil (Curtis) Brown, Farmington, NM; 4 grandchildren, Chris (Roger) Liebel and Kathy (James) Tatoya, both of Farmington, NM, Paula (Dave) Loegering and Patti Opp both of Fargo, ND; 2 step-grandchildren, Cindy Ludemann, Des Moines, IA, and Jane Halvorson, Fort Worth, TX; 11 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-step-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, a granddaughter, a great-granddaughter and 8 siblings.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE:

Carrington Cemetery, Carrington, ND

DATE AND TIME:

Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 1:00PM