Denise Faith (Drake) Ellis

Denise Faith Ellis, age 67, of Onigum, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at the Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji.  She was born on April 9, 1953 in Crystal Lake, Iowa, the daughter of Marilyn and Robert Drake, Sr.

Denise was such a well-respected member of the community.  She was one of the first bay area first responders in the Onigum Community.  Denise held many positions which included being guardian ad litem for Cass County, Senior Warden for the Forestry Department, and a Head Start Teacher for over 26 years.  Also involved with community, she was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and she piloted a lot of youth programs for the Onigum Community.  Denise loved to gamble, play Yahtzee with her friends, playing Hearts, Ricing and softball, but most importantly she loved being a grandma.  She was important to the youth around the area.  Denise will be missed by all her family, friends, and the communities she served.

The family that Denise joins again are her husband Myron Ellis, brother, Robert Drake, Jr., granddaughter, Helena Rose, sister, Mary Drake, mom, Marylin Drake and dad, Robert Drake, Sr.

Those she leaves behind to cherish her memory are her daughters, Muriel (Rick) Ellis, Cindy Ellis, and Sharon E. Raisch, sons, Myron John (Jeanette) Ellis, Sr. and Jonathon Frank Ellis, grandchildren, Hope (Chris), Myron, Jr., Endonis (Danny), Destiny (Jake), Ryann (Emilio), Reece, Precious, George, Anthony (Channel), Logan (Desirae), Waylon, Joseph, Justyne, Jessica, Brian, Jr., Kayla, Vincent, Selena, Natalie, and her namesake Denise E. Raisch, several great grandchildren, numerous relatives and many friends.

A two-night wake for Denise will be held at the Onigum Community Center beginning at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 2021 and will continue there until moving to St. John’s Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 for the service.   Pallbearers for Denise will be Myron Ellis, Jr., Logan O’Brien, Daniel Armstrong, Jake Harper, Chris Hager, Sr., Joseph Bruce and Anthony Kinchen, Sr.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Lady Elders of the Village, The Onigum Community, The Leech Lake Reservation Community, The Walker Community, and the Mdewakanton Community.  She will be laid to rest by her husband in the St. John’s Episcopal Cemetery in Old Agency following the service.  Donations may be made payable to the Northern Peace Funeral Home, 114 Tianna Drive, Walker, MN 56484.  In the memo, services for Denise Ellis.

Denise’s care has been entrusted to the Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN.  Online condolences for the family may be given at www.northernpeace.com

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