On November 22, 1923 Ellen Katarine Peterson was born to Paul and Signe Peterson in Lancaster, Minnesota. Paul and Signe owned a restaurant in this quiet little farming community. Ellen grew up and went to school here and picked up the nickname “Tootsie”.
While waiting tables in her parents restaurant, she met a truck driver named Lawrence Sinnott, whose nickname was “PeeWee”. They started a romance which was interrupted by WWII. Lawrence was a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps. While Lawrence was off to war, Ellen graduated from Aakers Business College and was thrilled with her high paying job at a bank ($18.00 a week). They resumed their romance after the war and were married on July 15, 1945. Lawrence worked in several creameries before landing a job as a mechanic for Reserve Mining Co. in Babbitt, MN. where they raised their five children.
In 1980, Toots and PeeWee started “snow-birding” to Boulder City, Nevada, where their daughter, Pam, lived. Lawrence passed away in 1989 and is buried in the U. S. Veterans Cemetery, where Ellen will also be buried.
Ellen moved permanently to Boulder City in 1990. She volunteered at Grace Christian Academy for a number of years and was a favorite of the kids because of her “famous hugs”. She also volunteered at the Senior Center.
In 2008 Ellen moved to Helena, MT. to be close to her children. She spent her final years at Rosetta Assisted Living. She enjoyed playing pinochle at the Senior Center, taking rides in the mountains and playing on the computer.
Our cousin Bobby Clay said it best: “She was truly one of the world’s best ambassadors of “Happy”……always a smile, open arms and warm hugs to all who entered her domain. Never a harsh edge, or a negative rebuke, but always jovial, open and generous of herself to friends, old and new.
May the brightness of her star continue to shine over her heavenly abode.
Rest in peace, our dear Swedish Maiden.”
Waiting to greet Mom at Heaven’s Gate will be her husband Lawrence, her daughter Deanna and granddaughter Callie Marie. Mom is survived by her children: Pamela Shackett, Mike (Danna) Sinnott, Patty Bunch and Scott (Trina) Sinnott, 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Very special thank you to: Laurie House, Jen Ekwortzel, all the care givers at Rosetta, Lowell Bartels for being Mom’s spiritual guide, Rick Wine for bringing music and love to the residents of Rosetta, Frontier Hospice- especially Kasi Sinnott Ward-and Dr. Jessica Bailey and Deb. We also greatly appreciate First Lutheran Church for their help with the funeral service.
Funeral service will be Saturday, January 13, 2018, 11:00am at First Lutheran Church 2231 East Broadway Helena,Mt. Reception to follow at the church.
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jason Quijada says
Hello family and friends, I was one of many caregivers for Ellen at RAL. Her smile and kiss on the cheek was always for me a blessing because I saw love in her. Most of all, I will miss her hugs which I’m sure you all knew her hugs were all it took to put a smile on your face and hers as well. Her companion and fur buddie Rosie loved laying with her when she slept. I would come in at 6 am and she would hear my voice and stare down the hall at me and meow wanting me to check on Ellen. It’s with a heavy heart that I carry I will miss her loving hugs.