Ellen M. Ebel, age 80, of Brookings died Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Eidsness Funeral Home, with interment in First Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will precede services on Tuesday beginning at 10:00 a.m. Ellen M. (Wallman) Ebel was born February 9, 1926, to Emil and Mary (Schultz) Wallman. She grew up as the sixth child of eleven surviving children. She was also a child during the Depression and World War II. These events certainly contributed to her strong moral character. Ellens family lived on a farm near Lidgerwood, North Dakota and moved to town in Hankinson, North Dakota when she was a teenager. She graduated from Hankinson High School in 1945. Upon high school graduation, Ellen began working full-time as a waitress at Pete and Mikes Caf in Hankinson. Ellen married Lynn Ebel on November 15, 1948 and to this union seven children were born. Ellen and Lynn later divorced. In later years Ellen worked as a home daycare provider and then as a nurses aid at the Traverse County Nursing Home until her retirement. Ellen loved bowling on teams with her friends. She was a die hard Vikings fan. Her family was on the receiving end of her crocheted afghans and cross-stitched projects as well as her many care packages of baked goodies. She enjoyed listening to and attending concerts featuring country music, Christian, and Gospel music. Her favorite interest was spending time with her grandchildren. Family and friends will remember her most for her compassionate nature. Survivors include her children: Dale (Linnae) Ebel of Zimmerman, MN, Cindy (Vern) Olson of Brookings, Keith (Sue) Ebel of Silverdale, WA, Craig (Patty) Ebel of Winthrop Harbor, IL, Lanette (Greg) Barnes of Hudson, WI, Jeff Ebel of Brookings, and Jodi (Steve) Nesheim of Sioux Falls; a sister, Helen Dering of Campbell, MN; fifteen grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; nine brothers and two sisters.