Ellen (Weigum) Renner

Ellen (Weigum) Renner, 96, of Beulah, ND passed away on September 17, 2025 at Knife River Care Center, Beulah.  Services will be held at 10:00 AM CT on Monday, September 22, 2025 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Beulah with Pastor Dana Coyle officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Zap, ND.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Sunday, September 21 at Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah.

Ellen was born July 25, 1929 to Peter and Elsa (Bauer) Weigum about 10 miles north of Zap on a farm in a 4-room house.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran church north of Zap.  She attended country school, graduated from the eighth grade, and worked on the family farm until she got married.  She met Ray Renner at a barn dance in July, 1947 and they were married on June 20, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran church.  They rented a couple of farms until they purchased a farm east of Zap near the Indian Head mine.  In 1954 they sold that farm and moved to Pick City where Ray worked on building the Garrison Dam.  In 1956, they bought the family farm north of Zap.  Ellen milked cows, raised chickens, hauled hay, picked rocks, and worked alongside her husband and four children. She also gardened, canned produce and fruits, baked, sewed, and was active in Immanuel Lutheran church.  She enjoyed entertaining and cooking for guests and relatives.  Ellen loved to dance! She traveled to jam sessions throughout North Dakota, dancing many waltzes and polkas along the way. She was involved in Red Hats, the VFW Auxiliary and Germans from Russia. Ellen enjoyed spending time with her family.  She especially enjoyed having the grandchildren spend time on the farm where she would go three-wheeling and sled riding with them.  In 1992, Ellen and Ray moved into the Dakota Prairie Estates condo in Beulah.

Ellen is survived by her daughters, Carol Schafer, Edgewood, WA; Sharon Klein, Bismarck and Goodyear, AZ; son, Gary (Lynell) Renner, Zap, ND.  She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Mark (Laura) Schafer, Edgewood, WA; Kara (Courtland) Merrill, Minneapolis, MN; Shivani Dahl-Bredine, Silver City, NM; David (Gina) Feil, Beulah, ND; Justin (Rachael) Feil, Beulah, ND; Tara Mindt, Mandan, ND; Danielle (James) Jansen, Lamoure, ND; and Kelsey Renner, Bismarck, ND.  She is survived by 18 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and her sister, Esther Klatt, Dickinson, ND, along with many nieces and nephews.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, Gerty Hinsz, Marian Morast, and Selma Heihn; daughter, Joanne Mindt; sons-in-law, Allan Engen, Bill Mindt, Ron Schafer and Tom Klein; and grandsons, Jeff Schafer and Ryan Tesky.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Homes, Beulah, and Hazen.

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