Ellen Hochhalter, 82, died on January 3, 2026.

Visitation will be held at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, on Sunday, January 11, from 2-4pm, with rosary/vigil service at 4pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 12, at 11am, at the Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave, with Father Zwack officiating. Luncheon to follow. 

Burial will be at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, Mandan.

Ellen was born on January 10, 1943, to Charles and Mildred (Sadowsky) Franchuk. Along with her older sister, Edith, they grew up in a farmhouse 21 miles from Dickinson, ND. They attended school close to home and then attended school in New Hradec, ND.

She graduated from Campus High school in 1961. She attended college at Dickinson State and started working at MDU. She was an independent, young professional for a few years before she met Edward Hochhalter (Hebron). They found love and a fun sense of humor in each other, getting married on June 9, 1969 at St. Patrick’s Church in Dickinson. They had two children, Chad and Nicole.

Ellen was more than a homemaker – taking care of her children, but also selling Mary Kay and helping to manage the family business, “The Heirloom Wood Shoppe.” She had a profound skill in accounting, and later in life worked as an Office Manager at the Dickinson Cheese Factory.

She and Ed relocated to Bismarck in 2003, and she loved living closer to her sister, Edith, and brother-in-law, John.

Ellen was shy but feisty – those that played pinochle with her know her competitive spirit! She loved puzzles and crosswords, completing more books than we could ever count. She loved baking, especially kolachi, cookies and pies. She enjoyed crafts and travel with her family, including trips to Hawaii, Los Angeles, Memphis and Portland. Ellen was a devout Catholic for all of her life, and into her last years continued to serve by making rosaries for St. Anne’s Church.

Ellen is survived by her son Chad (Karen) Hochhalter, daughter Nicole (Emmanuel) Oliha, grandchildren McKenzie Hochhalter, Cooper Timm, Noble Oliha, sister Edith Barth, step-mother Genevieve Franchuk, step brothers and sisters Tom (Susie) Knopik, Theresa (Arnie) Filipi, Steph (Gordy) Steffan, Tim (Eva) Knopik, Francis (Connie) Knopik, Margaret Knopik, Robert (Deb) Knopik, Jeanie Dukart, Kathy (Jim) Zarybnicky, Marvin (Audrey) Knopik, Nancy (Chad) Stoltz, Mary Jo Baranko.

She is preceded in death by her parents Charles and Mildred Franchuk, and by her husband, Edward Hochhalter.