Ellen A. Spilinek

Ellen A. Spilinek, 97, of Elba, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

Funeral Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. The Rev. John Doolittle will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be held 1 hour before time of service at the church.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church or the Elba EMT’s.

Ellen was born on Feb. 28, 1927, in Grand Island, the daughter of Herman and Hertha (Dammann) Teng. When she was 5 years old, she got a pony and had to herd the cows along the roadside for two hours every morning and two hours every afternoon. When she was a little older, she not only fed the horses and colts, but helped to break them to lead and ride. She also milked cows, swept and packed hay, helped plant corn and drove the tractor on the binder. She then worked at various jobs in Grand Island for seven years.

She was united in marriage to Alvin R. Spilinek on Jan. 20, 1951 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The couple first lived in California while Alvin served in the military. Ellen worked in the laundry, ironing officers shirts with the supervisor and later worked in a short order café until Alvin was discharged in 1953. At that time the couple returned to the farm near Elba. It was here that they raised their family of four children. They farmed, milked cows, raised chickens and finally a herd of Hereford cattle. She had a big garden which she canned a lot of the produce and did a lot of baking.

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

She is survived by her children and spouses, Cynthia Klingensmith of St. Paul, Terry and Diane Spilinek of Elba, Twyla and Jim Martin of St. Libory and Larry Spilinek and his girlfriend, Karmen Miller of Elba; nine grandchildren, Elizabeth Klingensmith, Christopher Martin, Mary Martin, Bradley Martin, Justin Spilinek, Eric and Jazmyne Spilinek, Shari Spilinek, Tyler and Michelle Spilinek and Ashley and Tommy Safarik; and one great granddaughter, Brielle Spilinek.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin on Jan. 23, 2019; son-in-law, Don Klingensmith; and an infant grandson.