ELLEN SCHEND obituary

Ellen Merle Schend, 86, of Havre died Saturday, July 16, 2005, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes.

A viewing for family and friends will be Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10

a.m. Thursday at the St. Jude's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the graveside services.

Merle was born March 15, 1919, in Kalispell to Emil and Mamie (Pearson) Krantz. She was raised and educated in the Kalispell area and attended Boorman Country School. Her mother died at a very young age and Merle helped to raise her brother.

She met Jack H. Bullman and the couple married in 1939. They had two children. He passed away in 1942. Merle then moved with her two children and her father to Bremerton, Wash., to work in the Naval Ship Yards during World War II. In 1946, after the war they moved to Fresno. She then met Charles Schend and the couple married in April of 1947. She worked on the family farm with Charles until they retired and sold the farm in 1960 and moved to Whitefish. The couple managed a Town Pump service station from 1970 to 1980 in Whitefish. Charles passed away in 1981 in Helena. Merle then moved back to Kremlin to be close to her friends and family.

Merle was a very kind person who never spoke ill of anyone or interfered in people's business. She was a member of a pinochle card club and enjoyed her friends at the Gildford Senior Center. She liked to shop, watch TV and game shows, especially Jeopardy. She enjoyed playing cards and visiting with her best friends. She was a very intellectual person and took it as a challenge to complete even the most difficult crossword puzzles.

Merle was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Marie Krantz in 1933, first husband, Jack Bullman in 1942; son, Fred Bullman in 1980; and second husband, Charles Schend in 1981.

Survivors include her daughter, Jackie Donoven of Havre and son, Terry (Cindy) Schend of Kalispell; brother, Alvin Krantz of Kalispell; 10 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials in Merle's honor may be made to the St. Jude Catholic Church or to a memorial of one's choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.