Ellen Kay Ellis

Ellen Kay Ellis, the daughter of Arthur “Art” and Lois (Mackey) Engeland was born on December 16, 1942 in Rugby, North Dakota. She died at the age of 83 years on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Ellen was raised in Rugby and graduated from Rugby High School in 1960. In December of 1960, she married Donald Tank and they were blessed with two children, Steve and Lisa. They lived on his farm, where she helped farm and raised their children. They later ended their marriage and Ellen moved in town in Rugby. She worked as a CNA as well as a waitress at Andrews Steakhouse. On May 27, 1968, she married Warren “Duke” Miller and they were blessed with two boys, Jeff and Jason. She raised her children and continued to waitress. When Duke and Ellen ended their marriage, she moved to Washington state in the mid 1980s to be closer to her family. She worked as a CNA for several years until retiring. While in Washington, she was out dancing and met Richard Ellis and the two were married on March 15, 1991 in Renton. In 1998, the couple moved back to Rugby where they lived the remainder of their lives.

Ellen was a waitress at the Hub Restaurant until she no longer could. She was always a hard worker. She loved to travel, her and Richard would travel all over the countryside in their motor home with their dogs. When she didn’t travel in the motorhome, she loved to take the train. She would take the train from Rugby to Washington for a quick trip or from Rugby to Chicago to Arizona for a longer trip. She and her granddaughter took a trip for her first plane ride and she determined that she would stick to her way of transportation…by train, you could see so much more. Ellen was a people person, loved to visit, enjoyed going to the casino, traveling and more than anything spending time with her family. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and the family would always spend Christmas Day at Grandma Ellen’s. She had the whole day planned, from breakfast to Christmas dinner. She was a good cook and enjoyed hosting her family. Whenever she was traveling or with her family, she often had a camera with her and many photo albums to show. Ellen was full of life, who loved her family and so proud of them.

Ellen is survived by her children, Steve Tank, Lisa (Kent) Krakowian, Jeff (Karen) Miller and Jason Miller (Rhonda Miller); step-daughter, Mary Ellis-Ward; grandchildren, Carlton, Thia and Mickael Tank, Nathan, Natasha and Zachary McGee, Trent and Aaron Brewer, Olivia Miller, Kourtney Vetsch, Debbie Miller, Kenny, Jared and Belinda Lovro and Tobiah Ellis; great grandchildren, Angel and Dante Brewer, Caden McGee and Bentley Reinoehl; sisters, Kristine (Rod) Swenson and Kathy Smith; several nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Ellis and brothers, Richard and Brian Engeland.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Ellis and brothers, Richard and Brian Engeland.

Private graveside services with Pastor Nathan Steen officiating will be held at the East Barton Cemetery, Barton. A gathering for sharing and lunch will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 8th at Dakota Farms Restaurant on Highway 2 in Rugby.

Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby. Share memories online: www.funeralsbyanderson.com.

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, August 8, 2026.