Ellen Strasburger

Our mother, Ellen I Strasburger, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Countryside Care with her loving family at her side.

Ellen was born on February 11, 1922 to parents Paul and Edith Mendenhall of Hay Springs, Nebraska. She grew up on the family farm south of Hay Springs with seven siblings where she was taught a strong work ethic but also a love for music at an early age. She attended Sandridge Elementary School and graduated from Hay Springs High School. She attended Cascade College in Portland, Oregon and fondly remembered her years there but due to her mother's illness had to return home.

She met our dad, Elbert "Eb", at a Bible Camp near Chadron and they were married on November 3,1944 in Alhambra, California. Dad was a Marine and was soon deployed overseas so Mother returned to Gordon where she worked as a nurse at the Gordon hospital until his return. After his discharge, they moved to the Sandhills and joined the Strasburger family on their ranch south of Gordon.

Daughter Myra was born in 1947 and son John came along in 1956. She worked tirelessly in their family home and was supportive of all her children's school and 4-H projects.

Our parents were instrumental in starting Pleasant Point Community church. Mother loved working with floor plans and blue prints and helped with the original plans for the church and parsonage. She taught Sunday School and Bible School, served on the Missions board and women's auxiliary, was the church pianist and organist for many years, and loved to sing.

Besides church activities, many students learned to play the piano under her instruction. She was active in local community groups such the Hobby Club and the Garden Club. She and Eb were very active in the Gideon's organization for over 50 years and were so devoted to this outreach.

Ellen is survived by her daughter Myra and husband Joe, grandchildren, Desiree McCullough, Damon McCullough and wife Amy all of Moses Lake, WA, and her son, John and wife Mel from the Gordon area. Especially close to Ellen, were Eli and Ileigh and their parents Ben and Stormy Hunter who work on the family ranch.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elbert of over 70 years, her parents, her four brothers, Floyd, Lewis, Willard and Curtis and three sisters, Alice, Ardith, and Zula and four infant children.

We would like to thank the nurses and staff at Countryside Care for the loving care they gave mother during the last 2 years of her life, she truly began to see it as home.

Visitation will be held Thursday October 19, 2017, from 5 to 7 PM at Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held Friday, 10:00 AM October 20, 2017 at Pleasant Point Community Church, Ellsworth, NE. The family suggests memorial to the Pleasant Point Community Church or the Gideon's and donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366, Gordon, NE 69343.

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