Ellen Theresa Madden, 88, of Sheridan, Wyoming passed away Monday, September 24, 2018 at Sheridan Manor. She was born December 6, 1929 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the oldest of 5 children, to Raymond Henry and Lois Rose (Kingston) Dindinger.
Her family relocated to Potter, Nebraska. While she was in high school, Ellen met and fell in love with Dwain Madden and later were married June 1, 1947. Together they were blessed with 6 children.
Ellen learned the meaning of hard work between farming and raising six children while living in Nebraska. Later, she worked at a local liquor store. She also lived in Twin Falls, Idaho where she was employed at the Coast to Coast Store. After living in Idaho, she and her family moved to Ely, Nevada where she worked at Western Auto and as a casino waitress and grocery store clerk. In the 1970’s, she and Dwain moved to Wyoming where she worked in the logging industry. Later, she became a real estate agent and traveling notary in Arizona, where she remained actively working until she was 80 years old.
Ellen was a member of Curves, Red Hat Club, and the Board of Realtors. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed painting, reading, Tai chi, music, traveling in her younger years, flower gardening and family history. Ellen played the piano, clarinet and saxophone. As a young adult, she enjoyed horse-back riding. She had a great faith and spirituality, which she instilled in her children and also, passed on her love of strong family traditions.
When Ellen’s health began to decline, she moved to Sheridan in 2009. One of Ellen’s big highlights was being crowned Homecoming Queen in 2010 at Sheridan Manor. She resided at Sheridan Manor until her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dwain, parents, son Barry Madden, brother Terry Dindinger, and granddaughter, Jen Crow. Ellen is survived by her children, Nora Rose (Pete) Christiansen of Las Vegas, Nevada, Cindy (Kelly) Jones of Flint, Texas, Randy (Jeanette) Madden of Laramie, Wyoming, Bonnie (Fred) Nuss of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Doug Madden of Laramie, Wyoming; brother, Tom (Nancy) Dindinger of Winter Park, Colorado; sisters, Patricia Weikhorst of Potter, Nebraska and Vicky Matthies of Littleton, Colorado; 22 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring of 2019 in Laramie, Wyoming.
Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.