Ellen E. Maki

Ellen Eileen (Heikkila) Maki, age 93, of Columbus, Minnesota for over 50 years, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2024.  She was born August 4, 1930 in Cromwell, Minnesota. She graduated as valedictorian from Cromwell High School and received a degree from Duluth Business University. She married Franklin Maki on September 23, 1950. Ellen was a full-time homemaker and was devoted to and much loved by her family. She earned her wings by watching for enemy aircraft as a member of the Ground Observer Corps, a civilian branch of the United States Air Force Civil Defense service. She loved to read, and she served for many years as a reading and math teaching assistant in the Forest Lake public schools. She was a long-time member of Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake.

 She was preceded in death by her husband Franklin, on March 4, 2020; her parents, Michael and Aina (Murto) Heikkila; brothers, Walter, Emil, Edward, Eino, Waino, Jonas, and Charles Heikkila; sisters, Senia Lundin, Marie Hengel, and Sylvia Carlson; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Maki. 

She is survived by her children, Darrel (Luisa DelCaro), Duane (Jane), Sue (Darryl) Frieburg, Gary, Janet, and Dean (Jody); 17 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, all of whom were her pride and joy.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 12, 2024 at Faith Lutheran Church, 886 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota.  Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., Friday at the church.