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Irene Viola (Rath) Van
Gaven
She was born near Merricourt, N.D. to Carolina (Gramita)
and Christ E. Rath. She attended country school and lived
and worked on the farm till the age of 16 when she moved
to Racine, Wisc. while there she explored a number of
interests that included singing and working as a telephone
operator. She moved back to Ellendale and attended State
Normal and Industrial College. Dec. 1950 she married
Willard Charles Van Garven they travelled to many places
with Willard's job on the oil rigs. She devoted the
majority of her time to and energy to her family. after a
time they moved back to Ellendale where they built there
home and educated there children.
Irene had a gift for cooking and over the years she made a
career of it as a restaurant owner/manager. a position in
Dickey Co. Memorial Hospital's dietary department and as
cook at the Ellendale Senior Citizen's Center. she also
catered special events and baked a countless number of
wedding cakes. She was recognized nationally receiving top
honors in a country wide cooking contest for her famous
Kuchen recipe. She also found time to work with the
Ellendale Ambulance as a certified EMT. A long time member
of the American Legion Women's Aux.
She is survived by her two sons Bill(Connie) of Frederick,
Md., Rick(Shirley) of Jordan, Minn., four daughters Linda
(Pat) Chapman of Andover, Minn., Carol Ellis of Rapid
City, S.D., Angie (on) Reed of Ellendale, N.D. and Dawn
(John) Yemma of Minneapolis, Minn. 16 grandchildren and 10
great-grandchildren. she was preceded in death by her
parents, husband, one daughter and two brothers.
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