Mary Ellen E Samuelson

A memorial service is planned on Saturday, July 26, 2014, for former Cavalier area resident Mary Ellen Samuelson, 84. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Hallson Lutheran Church in the Icelandic State Park in Cavalier, with internment at the Oaklawn Cemetery in Concrete. A reception will follow in the Akra Hall, also in the Park.
Mary Ellen died of natural causes at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City on April 29, 2014. A daughter of William and Emily Spangelo of Concrete, she was born July 1, 1929 in Walhalla. She attended school through the eighth grade in the one-room school in Concrete and boarded in Cavalier to attend high school, graduating in 1947. She graduated from Aaker's Business College in Fargo and studied English at the University of North Dakota. She worked for a time at a printing company in Fargo and at Sunset Hills School in Plymouth, Minn.
She married her high school sweetheart Theodore J. "Sammie" Samuelson in 1950. During their 53 years together, they moved often, a result of his career with Burlington Northern Railroad. In North Dakota, they lived in Grand Forks, Fargo, and Jamestown. They also lived in Montana, Washington state, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Mary Ellen found beauty in each place and treasured friendships made along the way.
She was well known for her baking skills, particularly her Christmas cookies and rhubarb pies. She enjoyed collecting antiques, gardening, Minnesota Twins baseball, basketball, and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include her children: Cynthia (Tom) Markle of Glasgow, Mont., Alan (Terry) Samuelson of Ramsey Minn., Kelly (Scott) Sable of Maple Grove, Minn., and John (Tonya) Samuelson of Valley City; grandchildren Nicole Sable, Katie (Lance) Watrin, Lauren Sable, Willa Samuelson, Jack Samuelson and Grady Samuelson; and great-grandson Jake Watrin. Also surviving are three sisters: Wilma (Darrell) Brandt of Cavalier, Edna (Ron) Sharp of Hamilton, and Sharon Ross of California; sisters-in-law Gloria Briese of Hamilton, Jewel Matsuura of California, and Marlene (Don) Teel of Georgia; brothers-in-law Bob (Diane) Samuelson of California, and Rick (Sharon) Samuelson of Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband, parents, sister Deloris Holen, sisters-in-law Roberta Watterson and Julie Samuelson, and brothers-in-law Judeen Holen, Jim Samuelson, Stanley Briese, Dick Matsuura, and James Ross.