Agnes Linnea Ellsworth

Agnes Linnea Ellsworth, age 100, died May 20, 2011 in La Grande. She was born February 15, 1911 in Spooner, Beltrami, Minnesota, the 9th child of Swedish immigrants, Ernest and Anna Mathilda Hjelm Wallin, who had 12 children in all. At the age of 11, her large family relocated from their farm in Minnesota to Longview, Washington, traveling across country with all their possessions in two touring cars, camping out along the way, and taking advantage of such memorial places as Yellowstone National Park.

Agnes attended high school at R.A. Long in Longview. She married Vuriel Silas "Eric" Ellsworth on November 12, in Longview, Washington. They celebrated over 50 years of marriage together before he died. The couple had a daughter, Sharon Kay, who only lived a few hours. They then had the opportunity to adopt Mr. Ellsworth's cousin's daughter, Donna Rae, who was 12 hours old when they got her. After spending the early married years in Longview, they moved to Union where for 25 years they owned and operated Davis Super (Texaco) Service with Agnes's sister and brother-in-law, "Chique" and Don Herman. Agnes did the bookkeeping for the business.

Agnes was an excellent seamstress and cook, and believed strongly in the Swedish ethic that cleanliness was next to godliness. She had a strong sense of fashion and if she had lived in a time when women had careers would no doubt have been a nutritionist or fashion designer. She celebrated her 90th birthday with a summer party at the home of her daughter in Union. It was the first time the Wallin cousins had ever gathered together and a special day for her. A few years after that, she decided to move to Wildflower.

She is survived by her adopted daughter, Donna Rae and son-in-law, Ralph Patterson, of Union; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She is also survived by nephews, Donald (Diana) Wallin, Rainier, OR, Roger Wallin, Fremont, CA and nieces, Carol Morrison, Longview, WA, Doris (Jim) Imel, Portland, Edith (Chuck Svensen, Philomath and Claudia (Larry) Snook, Buffalo, WY. She was the last living member of her large family and was also preceded in death by her husband, daughter, nephews, Ken Wallin and Alan Wallin and niece, Gloria Wallin.

Remembrances may be made to the La Grande LDS Family History Center or the charity of one's choice in care of Daniels~Knopp, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

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