Ellen Fortuna

Graveside service for Ellen La Verne (Korpela) Fortuna, 80, of Virginia, will be 11 am Friday September 29, 2017 at Markham Cemetery in Colvin Township with Pastor Nathan Lobb officiating. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Ellen died September 15, 2017 at Essentia Health in Virginia, MN. She was born December 29, 1937 in Markham, MN to Henry M. and Selma E. (Wesa) Korpela. She attended St. Louis County Schools in Palo and Markham. She was a 1955 graduate of Aurora High School. Ellen was united into marriage to Ludwig L. Fortuna in Eveleth, MN on September 1, 1973. Ellen worked at Cluett Peabody Shirt Factory, St. Louis County Schools and was a Clerk for Colvin Township. She also worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at White Community Hospital in Aurora. In Utah she worked as a nurse for the St. George Care Center, Olsten-Kimberly Home Health Care and Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. She was a resident of Minnesota with the exception of relocating to Santa Clara, Utah in 1985 and returning to Minnesota in 2006. She is survived by her brother, Henry R. (Lyndah) Korpela of Virginia, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Ellen is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Selma; brother, Ronald (1975), sister, Doris Wilson (2016); maternal grandparents, Henry and Lydia Wesanen; paternal grandparents, Henry V. and Liisa Korpela; husband, Ludwig (2012).