Ellen Louise White Stratton passed peacefully Wednesday, April 19, 2023 in her bed in the Elim wing at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush. She was born January 16, 1925 in Elim Hospital on the present-day Eben Ezer site. (Elim refers to a place of refuge with twelve springs and strong trees where according to Exodus, the Israelites camped after passing the Red Sea.)

Preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Douglas Stratton; her parents, George T. and Julia White; brother and sister-in-law, George R. and Corinne White and grandson, Logan Darrell; Ellen Stratton is survived by her four children, Harriet Stratton of Larkspur, CO; Walter Stratton (Michelle) of Akron, CO; Jill Dreher (Ed) of Akron, CO; Christine Quinlan (Rick) of Boulder, CO; grandchildren, Aunika Stratton (Teague Uva) of Ventura, CA; Jason Stratton of Ventura, CA; James Stratton (Erin Isom) of Tucson, AZ; Levi Darrell of Denver; step grandchildren, Stacie Stockton, Loveland, CO; Misty Conger of Ft. Collins, CO; great grand-daughters, Athena and Eden Darrell; step great grandson, Jonathon Stockton and an extended network of related cousins, nieces, nephews.

Ellen's good life began on the White farm near Hillrose, Colorado where coincidently her future husband grew up only 3 miles away in town. Ellen rode her horse, Bill, through the farm neighborhood to the one-room Colwell School. Her grandfather, Jens Christensen, drove her to Brush High School in his Model T Ford. After high school and a short stint of aiding the war effort by riveting airplanes in a California factory, Ellen attended Grandview Lutheran College in Des Moines, Iowa. Later she became an 'Aggie' at Colorado A&M in Ft. Collins. That's where she became reacquainted with former schoolmate, Douglas Stratton, just back from his service in the Navy and enrolled on the GI bill. Ellen graduated with a degree in Home Economics, Textiles and Apparel in 1947 and married Doug, September 7, the same year.

In 1950, Ellen and Doug moved to Stratton holdings on Washington County Road 50, north of Akron that consisted of little more than a couple sections of state land and a rudimentary 'line shack'. There they established their home. There they worked hand-in-hand to improve the land and houses and increase the ranch capacity to raise hundreds of Herefords, and later Angus crossbred cows and calves. There, they raised a family of four children, a few chickens but no pigs. Ellen would not tolerate goats or pigs. Fickle cattle markets and the drought of the late 60's drove the family to greener pastures in Halfway, Oregon but despite lush mountain surroundings, they moved back to the prairie in 1972. They spent the next 44 years on the 5 Lazy S Ranch.

Ellen viewed the prairie as her garden. She picked chokecherries and prickly pear buds for jellies, wild grass and ditch weed for bouquets. Ellen's love language was service and as a devoted wife and mother, her station of service was her kitchen. Entering her kitchen was like stepping into a fresh baked loaf of bread. She served glazed pot roast for Sunday dinner, hand turned ice cream to top the homemade cake, fried doughnuts or ableskivers for special occasions. More than one neighbor's pickup found reason to stop by the house for coffee where they most likely enjoyed the leftovers of a rhubarb dessert. She served superb meals to her family but also to hay crews, Rocky Mountain Oysters after branding, pitch fork steak fondue on a Saturday night. She hosted high school reunions, weddings, bridge clubs, and card parties: Canasta with the Christensen relatives, poker nights with family and friends.

Remarkably skilled in her sewing room, she served her clients tailored suits and prom dresses, Easter frocks and cowboy shirts, wedding gowns and attendants' dresses. And with leather she fashioned tractor seat covers, reupholstered the living room recliner, the bench seat of the pickup. She patched jeans by the dozen and delighted in any project that involved denim scraps.

From an early age, Ellen loved music. She sang tenor in quartets with her cousins, church choir cantatas, solos for weddings and funerals; she enjoyed piano duets. She exposed her children to the language of music, the value of practice; the pleasure of singing in harmony on long car trips to town.

Ellen taught by example, not only her children but her 6 ^th grade and High School Home Ec. Classes. She embodied the exemplary teacher. She modeled good citizenry not with rhetoric but by saying 'yes' to opportunities to serve: on the Akron School Board, for example or as a

long-time election judge or in the basement of the Methodist Church where on Tuesdays you'd find her with dear friends at the quilt frame contributing one stitch at a time in support of the church.

Ellen spooled 98 years into a good life. She is survived by her gifts. She repurposed her handmade clothing – homecoming dresses, cowboy shirts – pieced them together in a patchwork to create a number of crazy quilts. Today the quilts represent more than beauty and comfort. They're a catalog of family reminders. Memories of Ellen and her good life, a life lived in the service of good works.

Ellen Stratton's Memorial Service will be held 11:00 am, Friday, May 19, 2023 at the United Methodist Church of Akron, lunch and fellowship to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Methodist Church or the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center Foundation to be handled by Bowin Funeral Home.