Elizabeth C. Kellen, 102, of Alton, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen, following a brief illness.

The former Elizabeth C. Stoll was born Jan. 23, 1902, at rural Hospers, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Goschey) Stoll. She was raised in the Hospers area and received her education at St. Anthony's Catholic School in Hospers. She assisted her parents on the farm until her marrage to Aloysius W. Kellen on Feb. 12, 1924 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hospers. They started farming in the Bancroft and Armstrong area. In 1927 they moved to a farm near Granville. In 1938 they bought a farm southeast of Alton and lived there until they retired and moved into Alton in 1963.

Al died Oct. 19, 1966, and Elizabeth lived in her home until the age of 100. She resided a short while at Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community in Orange City, and had been a resident of Happy Siesta since Aug. 20, 2002.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, church Guild and St. Mary's Rosary Society. She spent many hours crocheting afghans for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include one daughter, Agnes and her husband, Melvin Ruba, of Remsen; six sons and their wives, Louis and Lois Jean of Naperville, Ill., Lawrence and Doris of Le Mars, Ambrose and Ann of Coldspring, Texas, Jerome and Perry, Joe and Liz, all of Alton, Arnold and Peggy of Antioch, Ill.; one daughter-in-law, Sandy Kellen of Ames; one brother-in-law, Leo Kellen and his wife, Armella, of Mankato, Minn.; 46 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 104 great-grandchildren; 20 step-great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; seven step-great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by son, Daniel; one daughter, Dolores and her husband, Sylvester Hansen; two grandchildren, Steven Hansen and Pamela Kellen; six great-grandchildren, Eric and Jennifer Kellen, Cora and Cassandra Kellen, Elizabeth Ruba, Trey Wales; seven brothers, Simon, Fr. Peter, Louis, Henry and infants John, Joseph and Leo; and two sisters, Philomena Stoll and Sophia Stoll.

Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. today (Monday) at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton with the Rev. John Vakulskas, Msgr. Nicholas J. Ruba, and the Revs. James Tigges, Timothy Johnson and Eugene Murray, officiating. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery in Alton.

Visitation was after 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Church in Alton, with a rosary at 3 p.m. by the St. Mary's Rosary Society and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m. The Fisch Funeral Home of Remsen was in charge of arrangements.

Casketbearers were Dale Hansen, Glenn Kellen, Jeff Kellen, Rick Kellen, Tom Kellen and Bob Ruba.