Ella Klarup

Ella E. Klarup age 98 of Westbrook passed away Sunday, November 7, 2010 at Westbrook Good Samaritan Home.  Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 11 at Westbrook Good Samaritan Home.  The Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Ella Emily Klarup was born November 10, 1911 on a farm one mile west of Storden, Minnesota to Nels J. and Laura (Larson) Klarup.  She attended Storden elementary and high schools riding the horse drawn bus in the early days.  Ella graduated in 1931 as salutatorian.   She took a course in cosmetology at Mankato Beauty School and worked at shops in Austin and St. Paul.  Ella took a training course at Austin High School that prepared her for a job with Northwest Airlines at Holmen Airport in St. Paul.  She moved to St. Paul in 1942 to be employed at Northwest Airlines in defense work.  Ella was stationed in the electrical shop wiring various equipment for B24’s, B25’s, B36’s, and B52 bombers.  She was promoted to inspector where she served until she was laid off in the fall of 1945 when the war ended.  After doing beauty work for a brief time, Ella spent three winters in Arizona.  She worked at Howard Hughes Aircraft in Tucson.  In 1949, Ella began work at West Publishing Company in St. Paul as a copy preparer in the statute department.  This was her career until she retired in 1977.  Ella enjoyed bowling and golfing on West League teams, and attending concerts, plays, musicals, baseball and football games.  Traveling was one of Ella’s great pleasures.  She visited Hawaii in 1966, Alaska in 1968, took a three-week tour of Europe in 1970, and has been in all fifty states.   Ella was a member of Storden Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and Bible School.  After moving to St. Paul, she became a member of Central Presbyterian Church.  Ella entered the Westbrook Good Samaritan Home in November of 2005, and was a resident there until she passed away on November 7, 2010 at the age of 98 years, 11 months, and 28 days. 

Ella Klarup is survived by one nephew Dr. Donald (Plyllis) Klarup of Savoy, IL and one niece Lora (Duane) Byers of Westbrook.  She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Elmer, and sisters Alma, Edna, Caroline and Mabel.  

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