ELLA ELVINA RYE ANDERSON STEINHAUER

APRIL 30


Ella Steinhauer died at the Thief River Care Center in the night at the age of 92. In the last days of her life, she animated old stories, speaking with family who came from as far away as New Mexico and Kansas. She requested singing of "Jesus Loves Me" and "You are my Sunshine". The expression on her face when she learned her daughter and son were coming was of complete joy. It was captured on a video phone for all the family in the far reaches to see her in her last days. Her family held her hand throughout the day and night. To them, a privilege in honor of their mother. Her youngest daughter, Shirley was with her when she died.

Ella Elvina Rye was born near Goodridge, MN on December 3, 1915 to Julia Olette Olson and Henry Thomas Rye. She was one of nine children: Oliver Rye, Hilda Rye Jorde, Alice Rye Thode Steinhauer, Ella Elvina Rye Anderson Steinhauer, Nora Rye Cloutier, Murvin Murvin Rye, Clifford Rye, Ilene Rye Stitt, and Ralph Rye. Ralph of Desoto, KS, survives.

Ella started her education in Goodridge, MN. and continued it Adams, ND. She attended high school in Thief River Falls. She worked for a family in Warren before her marriage.

Ella married Lloyd Paul Anderson on March 17, 1934. To them, six children were born: Lois Arlene, Dorothy, (Larry) Schneider now of Paola, KS; Richard, (Judie), now of Deming, NM; Robert, now of Albuquerque, NM, Judy, (Arlen) Sorum of Thief River Falls; and Shirley, (Keith) Hagen of Gatzke, MN.

As a stay at home mom, she played with her children, baked cakes and cookies, cared for a garden, and wrote for the Rosewood News which was published in the Thief River Falls Times. She kept abreast with her family and friends and was involved in the Mission Church which was started by Lloyd's father, Olaf. Her obituary states she was also the neighborhood seamstress, barber, and beauty operator as well as the place to go to get your driver's license renewed.

Lloyd died in October of 1967. The house in Rosewood was sold and Ella and Shirley moved to Knight Avenue after renting in town throughout the winter.

Ella worked for Arnold Reality and taught adult knitting and crocheting classes in conjunction with ATVI. Her home on Knight Avenue was a home for students who came to Thief River Falls for an education. Baskets of crocheting projects sat by each chair; where ever she sat, there are a chance for work in progress.

She represented all that one can be in a grandmother to her 12 grandchildren: Susan and Richard L Anderson, Larry Gene and Lynelle Schnieder, Rachel, Bud, and Ryen Anderson, Lisa and Nenna Arnold, and Brenda, Vincent and Juanita Hagen She led her grand children and great grandchildren along a path as tall and flowering as the hollyhocks in the front yard. For those who knew her in the petunia era, she has given us an image of a safe path to her.

Ella always had a sense of how to change the mood of the crowd and get children off in another direction without scolding them. Her home was always big enough, regardless of its size, to have room for everyone. It didn't matter what time one came to her home, she graciously invited everyone in. It was okay to unroll sleeping bags on the floor of her living room even if you had numerous empty beds upstairs. The coffee pot was always on. The cake decorating tools were available to anyone who wanted to learn. When she went to visit her family, her philosophy was simple, "When in Rome, do as the Roman's do".

After more than two decades of being a widow, Ella became the bride of Walter Steinhauer. Together they enjoyed traveling and hosting all of their melded children, grand children, and great grandchilden at their home on Thirteenth Street.

After a broken hip, she became a resident of the nursing home. Her husband Walter visited her there until, he too, became a resident. They celebrated their 22 wedding anniversary in January. Walter died in February. Ella told her daughter she felt so alone. Judy assured her, she was not.

Once in her circle, you were there for life. No one escaped her loving friendship, not even in death. Family was priority to her and in her last days, she expressed who was missing, meaning that she and her brother Ralph, were separated from those who had gone before them.

She stated in a video she was not to old to plan. She was planning a little house with a big play room for the children to run and play and the noise would be beyond her hearing. Thanks to Lisa, we have her saying it was a nice time because every one was together she was talking about her children and grandchildren who had surrounded her with loving care.

We know that life is the end of time to make new memories. This is especially true as we bid Ella good bye. She was and always be a true matriarch. She will always be the woman who could talk 24/7 one occasion needed the oven door open for a place to sit lest she fall over while asleep.

I will remember her as the person who patiently played Skip O with Ryen at 7, called our son,Bud BUDDY and posed with him while he was in a wig for a play, and taught Rachel how to decorate a cake so she could make one for her other grandfather's last birthday. She will be the woman with the fanciful fawn rinse in her hair, the lady who laughed when her then chubby legs wouldn't fit into the GoGo boots. She will be tuna and green beans for lunch and "Look at all I can eat". Well, the diet must have worked because she was a super model when she died. She will be the person who said, as a new bride, "I'll have onions, if you do". She will be the one, that at, at greater than seventy, when asked why she was getting married again, she said, "Because I am in love with him, NOT simply, because I love him.

What more can be said about someone who asks if you are dry behind the ears to which you reply at 18 that you are, but in your mid sixties, you still aren't?

Perhaps she was your friend. Perhaps she was your teacher. Was she your mother? How about a grand mother or a great grandmother? What ever your individual connection, we are today, all connected as we honor this fine lady who used everything up, just like she spent the last nickel on a spool of thread before going home.

Good bye my sweet friend from your very good friend in Fargo.

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