Ellen Kiel died on April 15, 2018 at the Silverado Community of Bellingham. She was born on Oct. 27, 1929 in Lake Park, Iowa, to Lambert and Emily Roetman. She attended school in Lake Park and graduated from high school there in 1947, then from Northwestern Junior College of Orange City, Iowa, in 1949 and from Western Washington University of Bellingham in 1965.
She married Boyd Kiel on June 14, 1950 in Lake Park, Iowa. They farmed in South Dakota, where their three children were born. In 1955 they moved to Lynden, where they operated a dairy farm.
Ellen taught school in Wagner and Corsica, South Dakota, also at Lynden and Lummi Head Start in Washington and on the island of Guam. She also worked as a restorative aide at the Nor Bell care center and in social day care at St. Luke’s in Bellingham. She volunteered for several years as a 4-H leader in Whatcom County and in Guam. They belonged to Wiser Lake Chapel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Ruth and Edith, brother Bill, husband Boyd of 66 years, and son Stan.
She is survived by her son Vic (Sandy); daughter Nancy; daughter-in-law Marcie; stepsister Carol (Fred); eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the Wiser Lake Chapel, 7121 Guide Meridian Rd.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wiser Lake Chapel, P.O. Box 591, Lynden, WA 98264.
The family thanks the entire team at the Silverado community in making her last days comfortable.
