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Mary Ellen Alford • 1929 - 2007 Mary Ellen Ann Blonigen was born on June 9, 1929, the daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Finken) Blonigen in Douglas, ND. She graduated from Douglas High School, in 1947. Mary Ellen married Howard Todd April 21, 1955, in Douglas, ND, at a double wedding with Wade and Rita Gulbranson. They made their home in Douglas. From this union a daughter, Lynelle, was born. Both Lynelle and Howard passed away in 1956. Following her husbands death, she attended nurses training in Crosby, ND, and graduated as a Registered Nurse. Mary Ellen married Gerald Denval Alford on April 16, 1966, in Fortuna, ND. They moved to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, OK, where their two children, Elizabeth Ann and Denval Lee were born. They eventually returned to the Minot Air Force Base in 1969, where she worked as a Registered Nurse at the Americana Nursing Home until May of 1977. Following Gerald's honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1977, the family moved to Cleveland, Texas for a short time. Mary Ellen worked as a RN at the Cleveland Hospital. They then settled in Wichita, Kansas, where she worked as a RN at a local nursing home until 1991. Mary Ellen and her husband then returned to Minot, ND, to enjoy retirement with friends and family. She was blessed with two grandchildren who gave her much joy and pleasure in the last four years of her life. She was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot. Her loving family includes: daughter, Elizabeth Alford, Sioux Falls, SD; son, Denny (Sophia) Alford, Minot; grandchildren, Austin Gregory and Braydon James Alford; sisters, Rita (Wade) Gulbranson, Portal, ND; sister-in-law, Evangeline Blonigen, Carrington, ND; and numerous nieces, and nephews. Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald; infant daughter, Lynelle Todd; brothers, Ryland and Clarence Blonigen; and sister-in-law, Frances Karlsbroten. Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, April 2, 2007, at
10:30 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot. Music Honorary Bearers: Mary Ellen's family and friends Active Bearers: Virgil Volk, James Keyes, Steve Volk,
Roger Gulbranson, Ryan Nelson, Jeremy Gulbranson To sign the online guest register
for Mary Ellen |
Mary
Ellen Alford, 77, 1327 25th St. SE #706, Minot, ND, died Wednesday,
March 28, 2007, in a Sioux Falls, SD, hospital.