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Irene D. Ell • 1931 - 2007 Irene Ruby was born on April, 28, 1931, the daughter of Harold and Hilda (Neimi) Ruby in Epworth, ND. She was reared and educated in Roosevelt, Minnesota and Stanley, ND. Irene worked at a movie theatre in Stanley and as a waitress at the "Club Café" and the "Toot- n-Tellm" in Minot, where she met her future husband. On February 6, 1950, she was married to Walter J. Ell in Minot, ND, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. They lived six months in Fargo, ND while Walter attended barber school. They made their home in the Minot area, where they owned and operated the "Aloha Drive Inn" in Minot, which they later converted to the "North 83 Used Furniture Store." During the summer months they would make and sell concrete ornaments with their family in "The Shop," where they also sold fireworks. Walter died February 7, 1999. Besides being a homemaker, Irene was passionate about art. She was a skilled painter specializing in landscapes and still life. On occasion she would do a portrait. In 1972 she held her first 'one-man' exhibit. Her paintings adorned libraries, banks, private clubs and even a Laundromat. She was an avid supporter of the arts joining in 1973 the Art Association which later merged with the City Art League. She was twice elected president and held various offices until 1989. She was actively involved with the Linha Art Gallery and later the Taube Museum of Art. She participated in the renovation of the old city library into the Carnegie Center. She taught art classes regularly between 1974 and 1985. In 1974 she received a scholarship to attend classes taught at the International Peace Gardens. Irene traveled around North Dakota and Minnesota participating in many local Art Festivals. Memorials are preferred to: Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art. Surviving relatives include: Sons: Travis (Sonia Yazqulian) Ell, Austin, TX; Todd (Jill Pederson) Ell, Savage, MN; Trent (Emily Groeckner) Marysville, WA; Tad (Shelley Ferguson) Savage, MN; Daughters: Treva Jo Ell, Chesapeake, VA; Tanya Ell, Norfolk, VA; Terri Ell, Minot, ND. Brothers: Ray (Paulette Meltenberger) Ruby, Minot, ND; Jerry (Elaine Trammell) Ruby, Birmingham, MO; Sisters: Ruth (Elroy) Zietz-Reiswig, Burlington, ND; Sharon (Dennis) Nickel, Burlington, ND. Seventeen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Irene was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter Twyla, two brothers Orville and Edward, and a sister Shiela. Visitation: Sunday, July 1, 2007 from noon until 5 p.m. at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot Vigil Prayer Service: Sunday, July 1, 2007 at 5 p.m. in the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, July 2, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Minot Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot Celebrant of the Liturgies: Father Keith Streifel, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Foxholm, ND Gift Bearers: Delilah Barton and Tina Hanbury Music: Congregational hymns: "I Know That My Redeemer
Lives" & "It Is Well With My Soul" Honorary Bearers: Irene's grandchildren and great-grandchildren Active Bearers: Michael White, Mathew White, Peder
Ell, Denis Johnson, Dan Ruby, Randy Ruby To sign the online guest register
for Irene To view
the inside of Irene's folder
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Irene
Dorothy Ell, 76, Belle Plaine, MN, formerly of Minot, died Sunday
June 24, 2007 in a Belle Plaine nursing home.