Ellen Sanford
Ellen Olava Granli Sanford passed away on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at the Legacy Emanual Hospital in Portland, Ore.
Ellen was born on Sept. 7, 1930, in Arnegard, N.D. to Andrew and Inga (Skaaren) Granli. She attended school and graduated from Arnegard High School.
Ellen was united in marriage to Melvin Iver Sanford on Sept. 11, 1949, at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard. They made their first home in Watford City before moving to Seattle, Wash., in l950 where they raised their family: Gary, Gayle, Terri and Daniel.
Ellen was employed by Boeing prior to moving to Oregon in 1965. She worked in Astoria, St. Helens and Scappoose in restaurant, bartending, and at the Candle Factory prior to retiring from Columbia Sportswear in the late 1980s.
Ellen spent her time with family and many friends from N.D., to the West Coast. Many and most will remember her wonderful sense of humor and her love for story telling. She never met a stranger and was always there to lend a hand to help family and friends in their times of need.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her children: Gary and Linda Sanford of Hobbs, N.M.; Gayle and Michael Peterson of Rochester, Wash.; Terri and Lorry Cook of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; and Daniel and Rena Sanford of St. Helens, Ore.; sisters: Arlene “Granli” Pedersen, of New London, Minn., and Borgne “Granli” Renbarger of Watford City, N.D; her grandchildren; Andrew Sanford and Lauren Sanford, Nichole and Clark Hammond, Aaron and Amy Peterson, Noal and Kim Cook, Matney Cook, and Taelor Sanford and Bryce Sanford; and her great-grandchildren, Cannon and Chase.
A memorial service was held at the Columbia Funeral Home in St. Helens, Ore., on Friday, Sept. 4th followed by Internment at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Ore.