Ellen Adeline (Baldwin) Vander Vloedt

Ellen Adeline (Baldwin) Vander Vloedt, 86, was taken from her earthly home to reunite with her heavenly father and husband on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister passed away at her daughter’s home in Kalispell, Mont., surrounded by her family.

She was born in a teepee on the Indian reservation in Ford, Wash., May 16, 1922, to Charles and Adeline (Brown) Baldwin. Ellen grew up throughout the entire Pacific Northwest – Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

She started school in Ford, Wash., moved to Oregon, then completed through the eighth grade in Eagle, Idaho.

In 1938, at 16 years old, she met the love of her life, Joe Vander Vloedt Sr. They were married Aug. 10, 1940, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at the hitching post and celebrated 60 wonderful years together until Joe passed away Sept. 6, 2000.

Joe and Ellen had three children. Son Joe Jr., and daughter Marlynna were born in Wallace, Idaho. Her youngest son, Mike, was born in Osburn, Idaho.

Throughout her life she picked berries, string beans, hops, pulled onions, picked up nuts, baby-sat and cleaned house. She cooked at the Jack Wait mine in Idaho for over a year before going to work at the local store in 1939. She worked in the potato shed in Othello for a short time. For several years, Ellen worked at Mary Hay’s Pie House and decorated Mary’s house during the holidays. The remainder of the time she was a homemaker, raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 1953, she moved to Othello, where she lived full-time until Joe passed away. She then split her time between Washington and living with her daughter in Montana. She also was able at that time to travel and visit her son in Indiana. The last three years she suffered from dementia and was cared for by her daughter Marlynna at her home in Kalispell, Mont.

Ellen loved the outdoors, collecting and watching wild birds and working in her rose garden. She loved to spend time with family and friends. Her hobbies also included cooking, fishing, bowling, dancing, crocheting, canning, ironing and reading Danielle Steel books.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Adeline (Brown) Baldwin; husband, Joe Vander Vloedt Sr.; brothers, Jack Baldwin and Jim Baldwin; grandson, Shannon Clink and great-grandson, Michael Wright.

Ellen is survived by her three children, Joe Vander Vloedt Jr., and wife Linda of Moses Lake, Marlynna Vander Vloedt and Cole Archer of Kalispell, Mont., and Mike Vander Vloedt and wife Maria of Indianapolis, Ind.; 11 grandchildren, Sherri Fought, Shelli Wright, Shannon Ray and husband Art, Danny Wardle and wife Darbe, Stacey Vander Vloedt and Jesse Gonzales, Shane Vander Vloedt and wife Anne, Ana Maria Joseph and wife Korey, Andrew, Margaret and James Vander Vloedt of Indianapolis, Ind.; six great-grandchildren, Amanda Lebacken, Derek Lebacken, Vanessa Sparrell, Mathew Wright and Katelyn and Dylan Ray. She is also survived by her sisters, Elva Howard of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Mary and husband Bill Kaiser of Loveland, Colo.; brother Del Baldwin and wife Lee of Kellogg, Idaho, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to the Agency on Aging, 160 Kelly Rd., Suite A, Kalispell, MT 59901. A special thank you to hospice and her caretaker, Janeece Milner, who spent many hours with Ellen.

She touched the lives of many people in many ways that will ensure that she will not be forgotten. A remembrance and celebration of Joe and Ellen’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 30, at the Nazarene Church in Othello.

Buffalo Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Cremation has taken place. A private scattering of ashes will be held this summer at Lake Koocanusa, Mont., where Joe and Ellen fished for many years.