Joan Banken

Joan C Ehlers, daughter of John O. and Dagny (Sageng) Ehlers, was born August 9, 1945 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She grew up in the Barrett area, where she was baptized in 1945 by Pastor Sandberg and confirmed in 1959 by Pastor Lokken at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Barrett. After graduating from Barrett High School in 1963, Joan made her home in Morris, where she began working in the bookkeeping and accounting field. On November 25, 1988, she was united in marriage to Steve Banken Sr. at First Lutheran Church in Morris. The couple has continued to live in Morris, where Joan worked most recently for Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing. Along with her regular job, she also volunteered bookkeeping and accounting services to local organizations such as the Morris Hockey Association. Some of her other favorite interests through the years were caring for her pets and spending time with her many friends.



Joan died on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at her home in Morris, having lived to reach the age of 61 years.



She is survived by her husband, Steve Banken Sr. of Morris; three children: Rob (Julie) Nelson of Sachse, TX, Noel (Mary) Nelson of Mendota Heights, MN and Angela Van Horn of Minneapolis, MN; 10 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; her father: John O. Ehlers of Morris; two brothers: Peter (Cheryl) Ehlers of Rowley, MA and Steve Ehlers of Burbank, CA and one sister: Kathy (Dominick) Nigro of Morris, MN. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dagny Ehlers.



Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris was in charge of the arrangements



The family prefers memorials to the Stevens County Humane Society or the Guide Dogs of America.