A livestream of the service may be accessed at https://www.christlutheranminot.org/church-online/
Ellen Claire Hendrie Cadwalader, 95, was born the youngest of three girls to John and Ethel Hendrie in the spring of 1929. She was born in the family farmhouse in Leeds, North Dakota.
She had memories of bottle feeding the lambs, riding on the tractor with her father, playing in the hayloft, daily summer walks with her sisters to the community swimming pool, and growing up before indoor plumbing and electricity.
In 1947, she graduated from Leeds High School. She joined her sister Pat in Milwaukee for a short time, before attending Aakers Business College in Grand Forks. She was very accomplished and proud of her shorthand skills, which she retained up until her death.
Bob and she met in 1951. After a very brief engagement, they entered their 59 yearlong marriage. They happily threw themselves into their marriage and raising their girls. She found time for each of her three girls, while attending unending recitals and programs, sewing dance costumes, taking painting and cooking classes and working full time. She went to work in the “steno pool” planning to work long enough to pay for the new freezer, and retired from her Civil Service position 33 years later. Her last position before retirement was as the Administrative Assistant to the USAF hospital commander at the Minot Air Force base. She was proud of her position and presence at work, always well dressed and pleasant, and made many lifelong friends in the Colonels and Generals who were fortunate to work with her.
She and Bob enjoyed many activities. Her “homemakers club” quickly went social with memorable costume parties and events. She and Bob were directors of the Sunday School office at First Presbyterian Church, and they hosted many gatherings including Friday nights with the girl’s friends after basketball and football games.
Throughout her life she enjoyed many winters in Arizona with Bob while making friends of her neighbors and hosting many happy hours on the patio. Flowers, poetry, words, pinochle and more recently Jeopardy and The Voice were some of her interests. She sewed, knitted, decorated cakes and enjoyed counted cross stitch. Her favorite thing remained her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and the gatherings on holidays.
Several months ago she moved to Somerset Assisted Living Center, and died in a local hospital after last special moments with family and friends.
She is preceded in death by Robert Cadwalader, who died in 2010 at the age of 82, her sisters Patricia Cobb (Milwaukee WI), Frances McConnell (Churchs Ferry, ND) and brothers-in-law Cliff Cadwalader (from Holdrege, NB) and Del Cadwalader (Evansville, IN).
She is survived by daughters Linda O’Shea (Allan) in Benson MN; Ann Cadwalader in Minot ND; and Kathy Kratoska (David) in Ft. Myers FL. Other survivors are her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Linda’s family is Matt (Rhianna), Alexandria MN and their children Madison, Cameron and Cohen O’Shea; Scott O’Shea (Sashanna) Baxter MN and their children Grady, Kellan and Finnegan; Kevin O’Shea Sauk Rapids, MN; Claire (Brian) Goff Benson MN and their children Audra and Cooper; Ann and her children Robert, Minot ND; and Marie, Minot ND and her children Raevyn, Jaylen and Emmalynn; Kathy (David) Ft Myers FL and their children Michael and his child Silas, Ft. Myers, FL; and Alec, Ft. Myers, FL. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She will be missed.
Celebration of the Life of Ellen Cadwalader: Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in Christ Lutheran Church – Minot. A livestream of the service may be accessed at https://www.christlutheranminot.org/church-online/
Interment: Leeds Lutheran Cemetery at a later date
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials are preferred to St Jude’s, Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Minot or the organization of your choice.
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