Ilah Spoonland

Ilah (Akre) Spoonland, age 85, of Park River, ND, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2014 at the First Care Health Center in Park River. She had been a resident of the Good Samaritan Nursing Home since 2009. Ilah was born July 19, 1928 in Park River, ND, the daughter of the late Isaac and Lilly (Nelson) Akre. She was baptized and confirmed in the Garfield Lutheran Church, rural Edinburg, ND. Ilah was raised on the family farm near Edinburg and attended a rural grade school. In 1946 she graduated from WCAS high school. She then attended Jamestown College and earned a teaching certificate. She taught in an elementary school for four years in Hunter, ND. Ilah married Ambrose Spoonland in 1952, and they made their home in Park River. She was a long-time member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was active in Circle and Bible Study. Ilah is survived by her children: Ross Spoonland (Tracy) of Park River, ND; Joan Schanilec (Rod) of Minto, ND; Beth Ward (Bill) of Minneapolis, MN; and Paul Spoonland (Phyllis) of Cincinnati, OH; her sister Donna Olson of Park River, ND; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ilah was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ambrose, and sister Doris Fenton. Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Park River. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery, Park River. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the donor's choice.