Ellen I. Paulsen

Ellen I. Paulsen, 103, of Grand Island, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 27, 2024, at Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 3, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Paul.  Interment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.  Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church in St. Paul.  Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family.

Ellen was born on March 19, 1921, to Martin and Carrie (Olsen) Mortensen in Cushing, Nebraska.

She graduated from Cushing High School in 1940 and went on to continue her education at Bonnell Beauty Academy in Hastings, Nebraska.  She was united marriage to Raymond Paulsen on February 8, 1946. The couple made their home on a farm near St. Paul. She worked as a beautician for many years, working at the French’s Beauty Salon in St. Paul.  In her later years, she helped out at the Red Carpet Salon in St. Paul.  She was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed working at Bryan Jensen Clothing, focusing on alteration.

Ellen believed in the value of a good worth ethic and was the true definition of a “homemaker.”  She attended to the farm chores as well as keeping her family fed, with her love for cooking and baking.  She will be remembered for her amazing apple pies which will always be a family favorite.  Together, Ray and Ellen raised 2 children, Elaine and Glenn.  The couple enjoyed dancing, card clubs, as well as traveling.  Two of their most memorable vacations were spent touring Europe for 14 days and Hawaii for 10 days. The family enjoyed going camping and fishing, especially in South Dakota. Ray passed away in 2005.  In 2006, she joined the Matelyn Retirement Community in St. Paul. In April of 2010, Ellen moved to Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island. In those 14 years, she became like family to them.

Besides her passion to be busy in the kitchen, Ellen also enjoyed sewing and gardening.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, the St. Paul American Legion Auxiliary, the Platt Duetsche Club and Eagles Club, both in Grand Island.

Those left to carry on her memory include her son, Glenn Paulsen of Grand Island; daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Jim Powell of Grand Island; sister, Florence “Elaine” Cline of Omaha; granddaughter, Becky (Dave) Renter of Manhattan, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Calvin and Gus Renter, both of Manhattan, Kansas.  Also left to cherish her memory include numerous nieces and nephews.

Ellen was welcomed into heaven by her parents; husband, Ray; granddaughter, Tina Gill; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Don Wagner, brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Estella Mortensen, Howard and Virginia Mortensen, and brother-in-law, Gene Cline.