Ellen Frances Whiteman was born November 16, 1971 the daughter of Justin Bonus and Edna Whiteman.  She was lovingly raised by Bill and Julie Whiteman in the Nett Lake area where she attended school.  Following her schooling, Ellen moved to the White Earth, MN, area to make her home.  For a number of years, she traveled and moved back and forth between the White Earth Reservation and Bois Forte Reservation before settling in the Mahnomen, MN, area.  Ellen has made her home in Mahnomen for the past 20 years and worked various jobs including at the Shooting Star Casino.  As her health began to decline, she was forced into early retirement and lived off and on with her daughter, Chris, including the past seven months.  Ellen died Monday, May 3, 2021 at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley at the age of 49.

Ellen will be remembered as the little lady with the great big heart.  She was always willing to help out anyone in need and could continuously brighten your day when you were feeling down with her jokes and smiles.  Ellen had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and have a good time.  She was an avid Minnesota Vikings Fan who also loved spending time with family and her grandkids.  In her spare time, Ellen enjoyed playing Bingo, watching comedies and funny movies, playing board games, especially Scrabble, working crossword puzzles and the occasional trip to the casino.  She also liked attending concerts and listening to heavy metal rock like Metallica and Mötley Crüe.  Although gone to soon from this life, Ellen will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Ellen is survived by her parents, Bill and Julie Whiteman; daughters: Chris Kier, Brea Hoagland, Angel Hoagland and Hayleigh Bush; sons Damian Zornes, Donald Hoagland III, and Ezra Hoagland; seven grandchildren; sister, Stephanie Werdier; brothers, Joseph Whiteman and Matthew Whiteman and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents, biological parents, and many aunts and uncles.

Traditional Services will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Bois Forte Tribal Government Center in Nett Lake, MN.

Please feel free to sign the guestbook, send condolences and view other opportunities which may be available to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.