Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271083
Title: Elaine M. G. Tong
Date: 6/28/1934-3/1/2021
Inscription/Marks: 6/28/1934
Summary: Elaine Mabel Grace Tong, 86, of Bismarck, and long time Ray, ND resident, passed away March 1, 2021. Funeral services were held March 5, 2021, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck. Burial followed at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. On June 28, 1934, in her paternal grandparents’ home south of Willow City, ND, Marvin and Laura (Kitzman) Ellis welcomed their seventh of eight children, Elaine, to the world. Elaine was baptized and confirmed in the Missouri Synod. Some of her fondest childhood memories included berry-picking, family picnics along Willow Creek with the Kitzman family, and babysitting her younger cousins. Though absent for an extended period of elementary school due to rheumatic fever, she graduated from Willow City school in 1953. In 1955 Elaine went to visit her sister and brother-in-law in Ray, where they had opened a barber shop. It was there she met John Edward “Ed” Tong, a WWII veteran, Teamster and father to Patricia, whom she married on May 24, 1957. Together, they enjoyed fishing, bird-watching and raising their family of four daughters, Tammie, Beverly, Jacqueline and Lauralee. During their time in Ray, Elaine was active in the Ray Jay Booster Club, Temple Homemakers, American Legion Thrivent, and Ray Lutheran Church Women. She started selling Stanley Home Products in 1973 and was eventually known for gifting her children and grandchildren with various cleaning supplies and air fresheners (In fact, if you’re reading this and need products, please, please contact Tammie). Elaine loved annual family gatherings and school reunions back in Willow City, birds, especially chickadees and purple martins, flowers of all kinds, particularly pansies, and often had Lawrence Welk, Big Joe’s Polka Show or (heartthrob) Danny O’Donnell playing in the background. Her grandchildren adored her, recalling memories of playing “31,” as Grandma shamelessly won their quarters, eating endless snacks, and drinking her homemade cocoa. Elaine continued to make her home in Ray following Ed’s battle with Parkinson’s and his eventual passing on September 29, 1999, and two breast cancer fights of her own. In 2013, she joined Tammie and Jim when they moved to Bismarck. She lived independently until January 2020 before entering Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. Macular degeneration took much of her vision, but her hearing was keen until the end. Some of her final words instructed a nurse not to talk so loudly because she could still hear just fine! To the kind and generous staff who provided care and comfort during the challenges of a socially isolating pandemic and the final days of her life, we are truly grateful. Elaine is survived by her daughters, Tammie Hill, Bismarck, Beverly (William) Strutzel, Carrollton, TX, Jacqueline “Jackie” Wolf (Kevin Hushka), Belfield, ND, Lauralee “Lori” (Larry) Erie, Powers Lake, ND; stepdaughter, Patricia Buhk, California; grandchildren, Amber Hill, Erin (Chad) Oban, Shane (Connie) Hill, Jessica (Brock) Wojahn, Justin (Jessi Rae) Mead, and Kayla Botteicher; great-grandchildren, Rylee and Grace Wojahn, Chase Determan, Ayden Miller and Collins Hill, Evin Oban, Parker Frenzel, and Journey Paige; eldest sister, Lyla Bertsch, Rolla, ND; sisters-in-law, Ernestine “Teen” Ellis, Minot, ND, Cora Weyrauch, New Town, ND, and Joyce Tong, Ray; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed; her parents; her siblings and their spouses, Lloyd (Winifred) Ellis, Alton (Theresa) Ellis, Harlan Ellis, Lorraine (James) Jones, Ardis (Douglas) Miller and Dorrell Ellis; brothers-in-law, Thomas Bertsch, Phillip Weyrauch, Robert (Arla) Tong and Roy Tong; sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Osmond) Skogen, Vivian Engen and Annie (Henry) Ringey; son-in-law, Jimmy Hill; grandson, Trevor Erie; great-granddaughter, Ava; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Red ID: FND_I_78573 Image ID: 595627 Image Notes: FND001 271083

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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