Ella Ganz

Luella (Lu) Ganz, our Mother, age 97, of Backus, passed away peacefully and quietly on May 10, 2010, of age related natural causes at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center, Pine River. She was the fourth of six children born to William and Alvina Knopf on October 24, 1912, in Kalispell, Montana. The family spent a short time in Montana before moving back to Minnesota, settling on a small farm northeast of Backus. The children attended Pleasant Lake Country School. Luella attended the Backus School from third grade until her graduation in 1932. She then went on to Normal Training, which qualified her to teach in rural schools. She taught at schools in Longville, Blind Lake, Moose Hill, and was the last teacher at the Huset School near Boy River, which was then moved to Walker near the courthouse where it is currently a museum of early school days. Luella went on to earn a Teacher's Certificate from St. Cloud Teacher's College and was hired as an elementary teacher in Backus. She retired in 1975 after a 33-½ year teaching career.

Luella married Howard Ganz on June 25, 1947, and took time off from teaching to have two children, Sharon and Bill. Howard and Lu built a home along with a few small cabins on Pine Mountain Lake. Summers were spent with family and friends, fishing and raising a huge garden producing an abundant supply of Kandy corn, squash, tomatoes, raspberries, apples, and more. Mom's raspberry-rhubarb pies were a big hit at the Senior Center dinners. Many fishing trips "out in the bay" yielded walleyes and sunnies, which were cooked to perfection by Mom. Grouse, duck and venison were also a regular table fare at our house. The beauty of changing seasons and the peaceful, natural lake setting provided a constant view of birds, waterfowl and wildlife, which Mom enjoyed. Many of her art and science projects incorporated the gifts of nature, making interesting displays for the classroom.

After Howard's passing in 2000, Luella moved to the Backus Townhomes, then to Whispering Pines in 2005. Celebrating special events with family and friends was a highlight in Lu's life. She is considered a true "old-timer" of the Backus area.

Luella was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Howard; sisters, Edna Helzer and Agnes Larson; brothers, Harold, Raymond and Leonard Knopf; and beloved namesake niece, Edna Luella Stenberg.

Those left behind with cherished memories are: daughter, Sharon Read (Don) of Kalispell, MT; son, William Ganz (Jackie) of Backus; nieces: Carol Dickey (Fred), D'Ann Burgerson (Brian), Margie Hultgren (Craig), Betty Dorner (Doug); nephews: Rollie Larson (Gail), Wilford Larson (Monica), David Ganz (Carol); several great nieces and nephews, plus many long-time friends.

Memorials in her remembrance may be sent to the Good Samaritan in Pine River for a special project in her honor, or the Backus First Responders.

Services will be 11 AM on Saturday, May 15, at the Church of the Nazarene, Backus. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Backus. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 PM at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, and one hour prior to the service at the church.