Ellen R. Lockhart

Ellen R. Lockhart, 90, died peacefully March 16 at Big Lake with her family at her side.

Born premature in Keewatin, Minn., on the Iron Range to John C. and Emilia Henkens Peterson, Ellen’s family was poor and without medical services; they kept her warm in the oven.

Ellen graduated from Nevis High School, Nevis, Minn., in 1936.

She taught all grades in a one-room school in Minnesota, then moved to Oklahoma. She met the love of her life, Forrest, and they were married in 1940. In 1943 Forrest was inducted into the Army. Ellen worked for the Emergency Rubber Project in the guayule fields in California. When the war ended in 1945, they moved back to Minnesota.

The Lockharts moved to Montana in 1948, then on to Pendleton, Ore.

In 1951 they drove the Alcan Highway. Ellen worked in collections at Providence Hospital. From 1960 through 1984 the Lockharts owned and operated Bud’s Welding & Radiator Service at the corner of 9th and Juneau in Fairview.

The Lockharts owned the Scot’s Mist from 1964, followed by the Allegro from 1974-1993 in Seward. Ellen consistently caught the biggest fish on the boat.

She won a battle with breast cancer in 1984, when she was one of the first patients chosen for a lumpectomy coupled with radiation treatments. She was happy her experience would be used to help others.

Her family said, “We loved her zest for life, her quick wit and positive nature. She will be missed by all who knew her.”

Forrest preceded her in death in 2001. She moved to Big Lake later that year with daughter Linda Lockhart and Linda’s companion, John Erskine, where she helped to create the Lockhart & Erskine Garden and was a charter and lifetime member of the North Root Big Lake Gardeners.

She was also preceded in death by her sister Edna Romer, brothers Roy and Ralph Peterson.

Ellen is survived by her daughter, Linda Lockhart, John Erskine, nieces; Lavonne Lindow, Penny Voss, nephews; Ronald Romer, Danny Romer, sister-in-law; Betty Peterson, Betty’s children Rose, Sandy, Debbie and Roy, and numerous grandnephews and nieces.

Ellen and Forrest’s ashes will be mixed and divided with half being strewn in Alaska and the other half interred in the family plot in Nevis, Minn.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a date and location to be determined.

Arrangements were made with Valley Funeral Home