Ellen Harrison

Funeral Services for Ellen D. Harrison, of Albert Lea, will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, June 20, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Reverend John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. on Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church. Ellen died on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the N.C. Little Hospice House in Edina, MN, where she had spent her last days in the tender loving care of their staff. She was 88. She was born on September 13, 1927, in Albert Lea the daughter of Jack and Millia "Millie" (Stene) Tveite. She graduated from Albert Lea High School and then received her Registered Nursing Degree from Fairview Nursing School in Minneapolis. She returned to Albert Lea to work at Naeve Hospital, where she planned on staying a year or so before "spreading her wings" . It turned out to be a lifetime, as she met and married D. Romone Harrison and they married on July 10, 1949, at the First Lutheran Church. They embraced the Albert Lea community where they lived, worked and raised their family. Ellen retired from Naeve Hospital (Albert Lea Medical Center) in 1994 after 46 years of nursing. Ellen, strong in her faith, had been very active in First Lutheran Church. She sang in the choir, participated in bell choir and was a dedicated circle member for all of her years. Ellen also participated in a memorable and inspiring mission trip to Bolivia. She had served on the Naeve Hospital Foundation Board. Music was a very important part of her life and she shared that passion with her family. A true woman of grace, Ellen's home was always open and everyone was family. She had a very gracious gift of hospitality. Ellen is survived by her children: Richard "Rex" (Diane) Harrison of St. Louis Park, MN, Susan (Thomas) Hanson of Arden Hills, MN, Mary (Joel) Johnson of Burnsville, MN; grandchildren: Peter (Holly) Hanson of Minneapolis, MN, Sara (Michael) Heath of Arden Hills, MN, Romone Harrison of Chicago, ILL, Katie (Nick) Hagen of Rosemount, MN; great grandchildren: Jordan and Carter Heath; brother Paul (Betty) Tveite of Grand Rapids, MN; sister Ruth Stauffer of Bloomington, MN, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Romone in 1986, sister-in-law Polly Tveite and brother-in-law Bill Stauffer. Ellen will be fondly remembered for her strength, unwavering faith and giving and sharing life's blessing with others.
In lieu of flowers memorials suggested to Naeve Hospital School of Nursing Scholarship or Children's Surgery International.