A Celebration of Life Service was held on Tuesday, March 21st at 11:00 A.M. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers. Burial followed at the Jeffers City Cemetery in Jeffers. The service was live streamed on the Trinity Lutheran Church Facebook page.
Arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom. Condolences and memories of Ellen may be sent online to www.lacannefuneralhome.com.
Ellen Marie (Iverson) Arnsdorf was born on September 8, 1941, to Elton Ivan and Eleanor Frances (Highby) Iverson, in Springfield, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Old Westbrook Lutheran Church, Westbrook, Minnesota.
Ellen attended country school at District 37, Cottonwood County and graduated from Lamberton High School in 1959. Ellen went on to study at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1963.
On October 25, 1963, Ellen was united in marriage to Ken Arnsdorf at the Old Westbook Lutheran Church. Ken and Ellen farmed in Amboy Township for 53 years. Ellen worked as a Home Economics teacher in Forest Lake, Springfield, Comfrey and Storden-Jeffers Public Schools. After 20 years in that field, she went back to school to earn a master’s degree in education from Mankato State University in 1985. Ellen then took a job as a Nutrition Program Manager at the SWWC Service Cooperative in Marshall, Minnesota. She later worked as a Nutrition Program Manager for the MN Dairy Association in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she retired in 2006.
Ellen was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers. She was involved in many education organizations. She also spent time reading, working with stained glass, and flower gardening with many MN native plants. She loved her canine companion, Jake, and was known as a farmer’s wife.
On March 16th, Ellen was called to her heavenly home, at the age of 81, at the Valley View Manor in Lamberton.
Left to cherish Ellen’s memory are her brothers, Glen (Joan) Iverson of Lamberton, MN, and Kern (Shirley) Iverson of Lamberton, MN; dear friend, Ruthie Missling; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Ken Arnsdorf; parents, Elton and Eleanor Iverson; younger brother, Bruce Iverson; nephew, Toby Iverson; in-laws, Marlo & Evelyn Arnsdorf.
Blessed be the memory of Ellen Arnsdorf.
