Ellie Williams

**** The funeral for Ellie Williams will be moved to Sunday, January 19, 2020 due to the weather. The funeral will be at 3:30 p.m. at Ebenezer Free  Lutheran Church with a visistation from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Ellie Williams passed away January 8th, 2020 at her home in Coolidge, AZ after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by family and friends.  Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. at Ebenezer Free Lutheran Church in Northwood, ND. A visitation will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the church.

Ellie Maria Burg was born in Darmstadt Germany on December 30, 1938 to Jacob and Lydia Burg.  She was raised in war torn Germany and shared memories many times of playing in bombed out buildings and even stealing away at night to provide food for her and others at the age of five.   Ellie completed her education and entered an apprentice-based on the job training program to learn business management.

She met Tom, the love of her life in 1966, while he was stationed in Darmstadt with the United States Air Force.  They were married December 1, 1967 and shortly thereafter Tom, Ellie, daughters Patricia and Renee were on a plane bound for the United States in 1968.  Ellie often lamented that the day the planed lifted off from Germany was one of the happiest days of her life. 

Tom and Ellie welcomed two sons, Thomas and Steven in 1969 and 1970, respectively, and traveled around the world due to Tom’s military commitments before being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base in 1976. 

Shortly thereafter, they had the pleasure of meeting Ray and Blanche Anderson and their family, and purchased the Carl Mandt farmstead from them and moved to their 10 acre farm site and commenced to renovate an old house that soon became their home.  They worked tirelessly to raise their four children in this new environment, and were most proud of their honesty and integrity in their pioneer spirit. 

Ellie owned and operated the Roadside Cafe in Northwood for many years before taking over the Golden Lake Resort in 1988 until 2001.  In that time, she forged many lasting relationships with so many people and she loved the restaurant business.  Often times, people would drive many miles to have Ellie’s home cooking.  She was featured several times by local newspapers for her exquisite ability in the business.  Most of all though she was proud of the staff that worked with her to make it all possible and up until her death many of those young ladies would visit her and thank her for the time they spent with her at the resort.

Ellie is survived by her husband of over 52 years, Tom, her children Renee (John) Toynton, Sarah, Amy and Alex; Thomas(Tara); Steven(Jessica), Hamilton, Carson, Braydon, Mason, Sophie and Jaxon;  grandson Andrew Forrest.  Sisters Monika and Edeltraud, brother Maximillian and several nieces and nephews in Germany.  Ellie was preceded in death by her parents and daughter Patricia.