Ella Schon

Ella Schon, 77, of Turtle Lake, ND, died June 16, 2026 at CHI St. Alexius Turtle Lake Hospital. Funeral services will be at 11:00am on Monday June 22, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake. Burial will be in the Turtle Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour before the services on Monday.

Ella was born in Minot, ND, the daughter of Henry and Gena (Madsen) Sheelar. She was raised on the family farm near Strawberry Lake and was educated at country schools in Otis Township and later at Butte High School. She assisted her family with the operation of their dairy farm during her younger years. She met Eugene Schon during a visit to Turtle Lake and they were married on February 17, 1968 at Peace Lutheran Church in Turtle Lake. Following their marriage, they resided on Gene’s family dairy farm where they raised their 3 children. Ella was very active on the farm and enjoyed being a farm wife. She was never afraid of hard work. She assisted with milking cows, taking care of her garden, and the daily operations of farm life.

She later worked in the office of the Turtle Lake Livestock and worked at the Turtle Lake Hospital doing laundry for 22 years.

Ella was very faithful, she attended church regularly, taught Bible School, played an active role in WELCA, was on the church council and instilled these values to her children.

Gene and Ella retired from milking dairy cows in 1995, they continued to live on the farm and continued farming until fully retiring in 2021.

Ella enjoyed doing puzzles, reading, taking pictures, playing cards, gardening, planting and caring for her flowers. She loved cats, taking in any stray that may wonder into her yard. She loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her children and grandchildren. She loved attending many of her grandchildren’s activities and sports.

She was a very caring, devoted and dependable wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be deeply missed.

Ella is survived by her husband, Eugene “Gene”, Turtle Lake, ND; sons: Steven (Shelly), Bismarck, ND and Chad (Lark), Bismarck, ND and daughter, Sarah (Jarvis) Keney, Bismarck, ND; four grandchildren: Derek Schon, Dawson Schon, Tyson Keney and Ava Keney; brother, Marvin Sheelar, Turtle Lake, ND; and sister, Maxine Berg, Turtle Lake, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Kaylee Schon; sisters: MaryAnn Bakken and infant Ellen; brothers-in-law: Bennie (Ruth) Schon, Carroll Bakken, Terry Berg, LeVerne Schon and Lyle Schon; sister-in-law, Linda Sheelar.