Biography

ST. JAMES: A Celebration of Life Service for Ellen C. Bernhardt, 98, of St. James, Minnesota formerly of Trimont, will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2010 at Evangelical Covenant Church in Trimont, Minnesota with Pastor Mark Anderson Officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, rural Trimont, Minnesota.

Ellen died on Tuesday morning, February 2, 2010 at the St. James Medical Center in St. James, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Kramer Family Funeral Home in Trimont and one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the Church. Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com

Ellen Christine Anderson was born on November 3, 1911 to Andrew and Eva (Lindell) Anderson in Cedar Township, Martin County, Minnesota. She received her education in rural school in Cedar Township. She assisted her parents and family on the family farm. Ellen was united in marriage to Henry Anderson at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. After their marriage, they lived in St. James. Ellen was employed as the contact person for the Star and Tribune Newspaper in St. James and later was employed as a telephone operator and worked at the Crescent Café and Sherr Tumico all in St. James. Harold died on January 30, 1960. On October 6, 1973 she was united in marriage to Emil Bernhardt at Trinity Lutheran Church in Trimont, Minnesota. After their marriage, they lived on the farm in Cedar Township until moving to Trimont in 1993. Emil died on April 29, 1996. Ellen later moved to Amberfield Apartments in St. James until moving to Brandt Ridge. Since August of 2009, she has been a resident of Pleasant View Good Samaritan Home in St. James. She greatly enjoyed crocheting, quilting and taking care of her flowers. Ellen did restore old furniture and dolls.

Survivors include her three children, daughters, Jane and husband, Charles Semanko of Coon Rapids, Minnesota and Mary and husband, Arnie Frederickson of rural Hanska, Minnesota; son, Norman and wife, Shirley Anderson of Denver, Colorado; seven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; sisters, LaVerne Honnette and Arlene Larson both of Sherburn, Minnesota; brother, Marvin Anderson of rural Trimont, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Viola Bernhardt of Trimont, Minnesota and Nelda Berry of Minneapolis, Minnesota; many nieces, nephews and other other relatives.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Henry Anderson and Emil Bernhardt; sisters, Mildred (Edward) Ebeling, Theresia (Alden) Anderson, Ruth (Kenneth) Schafer, Edith (Hans) Nielsen; brothers, Leonard (Iva) Anderson and Walter (Hildur) Anderson; sister-in-law, Faye Anderson; brothers-in-law, Melvin Honnette, Lyle Larson; and other relatives.