Ella Syverine Haattvedt Jerome, 89 of Hallock, MN passed away early Tuesday morning, December 16, 2014 at the Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center. She was born in the Hallock Hospital on August 18, 1925 to Arthur and Grace (Smith) Haattvedt. The Haattvedt family were members of Eidsvold Lutheran Church, Halma, MN where Ella was baptized and confirmed. She went to grade school in Halma and attended high school in Karlstad where she graduated with honors. After graduation she worked as an accountant for Frank Kiene Farms, Kennedy, MN. In 1944 she married Edward Jerome of Hallock. They farmed west of Hallock for 40 years. They raised cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, geese, and turkeys and planted wheat, corn, oats, and alfalfa. In 1958, Ella began working for the Hallock Hospital in laundry and cleaning and then as a nurse's aide. In 1974, Ella earned her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree and worked continuously as an LPN until her retirement from Kittson Memorial Hospital in August 1995. The one exception was when she provided nursing support one summer at the Spanish Concordia Language Village near Bemidji, MN. In 1979, Ella and Ed were recognized by the Minnesota State Fair board for having owned a Minnesota family farm for 100 years. During her retirement, at 70 years old, Ella moved to Minneapolis for a year to work for Lutheran Volunteer Corp at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church's Homeless Shelter located in Minneapolis. Ella traveled extensively with her dear friend Dorothy Miller. She visited Washington DC, Holden Village in the state of Washington, Door County, Branson, California, Oregon, Alaska, and spent winters with her daughters in Minneapolis, Moorhead, California, Illinois, and Arizona. In 2004 Ella, accompanied by Angela, Steve, Abigail, and Rosemary Tuckner, traveled to Norway to visit the original Haattvedt family farm in Morgedal in Telemarken Province, Norway. Ella was delighted to visit her grandfather's homeland and connect with family in Norway. Throughout her retirement, Ella engaged in community activities such as homemakers, church circle, volunteering in Grace Lutheran Church office, the Hallock Library, and support for the Hallock senior center. She also volunteered for Hospice in Hallock. She loved to play Scrabble, bake, cook and entertain family and friends. In 1987 Ella and Gloria led the effort to publish the Haattvedt families' best loved recipes in the Haattvedt Family Cookbook. After living on the farm for 64 years, in 2005 Ella moved into Hallock. She celebrated her 80th birthday that same year with family and friends at an open house in Grace Lutheran Fellowship Hall. Declining health prompted Ella to move into the River's Edge Assisted Living in Hallock in May 2010 and eventually into the nursing home. She is survived by her children, Carolyn (Jim) Gorham, Bemidji,MN, Edward Jerome (Ruth Swan), Hallock and Winnipeg, Eileen (Wayne) Grundstrom, White Bear Lake, MN, Tom (Suzanne) Jerome, Minneapolis, MN, Rosemary (Larry) French, Ajo, AZ, Angela Jerome-Tuckner (Steve Tuckner), Roseville,MN; seven grandchildren, Katherine, Craig, Karis, Rochelle, Anna, Abigail, and Rosemary; eight great-grandchildren, Grace, Frances, Tatum, Joseph, Isabel, Arthur, Eleanor, Rayna, and Salma; her sister, Esther Paulson, Karlstad, MN; and many nieces and nephews. Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Grace (Smith) Haattvedt, her sisters, Joyce Tidwell and Gloria Bedard, and her husband, Edward Jerome. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday,December 20th, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in Grace Lutheran Church, Hallock. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock. Rev. Frank Johnson, presiding; Renee Wahl, organist and Karen Vold, soloist. Casket bearers will be Ella's grandchildren and great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. in the Austin Funeral Home at Hallock.