Ellen C. Walter

Ellen Cecelia Walter of Merrill, Michigan died peacefully October 19, 2021 at The Roosevelt House, Hemlock, MI. Just eleven days earlier, she celebrated her 96th birthday with a rhinestone crown and apple pie a la mode. Today, she is wearing her heavenly crown. Ellen was born October 8, 1925, in Lakefield Township, the daughter of Nicholas John and Mary Jane (Marshall) House. She graduated from Merrill High School in 1943. She shared an apartment with her sisters in Saginaw while she worked at the GM gun plant and then at the Schust Bakery.

On July 3, 1948, she married Donald Robert Walter at St. John Lutheran Church in Hemlock, Michigan. They moved to Dayton Ohio, where she worked in a department store while he managed a dairy herd. In 1950 they returned to Michigan and purchased their first farm less than 3 miles from where she was born. This is where they put down permanent roots, raised a family and built a successful farming business. While Don predeceased her in 2007, she continued to live in her house and enjoyed working in her gardens for another 10 years.

Ellen found her purpose in hard work. She shared her Christian faith by countless acts of service. Be it preparing and delivering a hot meal to a trucker in a sugar beet field, soothing a colicky baby or filling a friend’s back seat with the bounty of her garden. She volunteered at Bethesda Thrift store for over 35 years sharing the work and laughs with several sisters in Christ. Her creative joy came at the end of a threaded needle. She was a member of the Lakefield Quilting Club for over 50 years. She continued to serve after moving to assisted living by helping other friends and residents. When she could no longer care for other’s physical needs, she gave us daily emotional pick-me-ups with her beautiful smiles.

Work turned into play when it came to her grandchildren. She encouraged them to do their best and to reach for their goals. Without shame, she teased them while also spoiling them with love and her delicious cooking.

Surviving are her four children, Robert Walter of Merrill, Mark (Patti) Walter of Hemlock, Jim (Theresa) Walter of Merrill and Kathleen (Mark) Weigold of St. Johns; six grandchildren, Michael (Monica) Walter, Jennifer (Jay) Jubenville , Gene (Sabrina) Godley, Robert (Cayla ) Godley, Ryan (Katie) Weigold and Glenn Weigold; ten great-grandchildren, Josie and Emily Walter, Desire, Dakota and Deonte Fleece, Kadin Godley, Jacklyn and Cheyanne Harrington, Shelby (Austin) Hare, and Madelyn Godley; four great-great-grandchildren Jaxon, Aiden, Makenzy and Bentley; her dear sister and handsome brother-in-law Shirley and Bob Fortier; sisters-in-law Gerry House, Marilyn House and Betty Savo; many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, beloved granddaughter Rachael Ann Walter, and siblings and their spouses Gladys (Charlie) Surdock, Doris (Gerald) Sherwood, Marion (Joe) Lauer, Marshall House, Elton (Irene) House, Ray and Howard (Mary) House. She missed, but cherished the memories of, her first best friend Margaret Nohel. She liked to say she collected friends, including family friend Janet Santino, with whom she shared her love of gardening. Also, it is never too late to make new best friends as she and Esther Anderson proved.

The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to all of the women at The Roosevelt House. Being with you allowed her to expand her family of friends and to spend her final months in your loving care.
Following her wishes, the family honored her life with a private ceremony. Her final resting place is next to Don in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Hemlock, Michigan. The service was led by Pastor Philip Loescher. He provided a meditation of Psalm 42:1-2 and John 11:25.

In honor of Ellen, get to work. Share a smile, share some wisdom and share your faith.